Family seek donations for daughter's radical surgery

Tae Kami, 13 this weekend, faces surgery to remove her upper jaw including bone, teeth, tissue and the roof of the mouth

The Pacific community of Auckland is being asked to rally behind a Tongan girl who needs life-saving and radical surgery to remove her cancerous upper jaw.

The Herald reported in December that Tae Kami, 12, had a strangely recurring growth in her face that has required multiple operations both in Tonga and New Zealand.

A biopsy has confirmed the tumour was cancerous, just a week before her 13th birthday this weekend.

Tae is booked in for private surgery at the end of this month in Ascot Hospital, where doctors will remove her upper jaw including bone, teeth, tissue and the roof of the mouth.

Tae's family have so far managed to raised the thousands needed to pay for previous surgery, but the next operation will cost $50,000. There will be expenses to cover the chemotherapy and facial reconstruction.

Her mother, Sina Kami, said yesterday the surgery was a scary prospect but Tae was "hanging in there".

"She knows what she's in for."

Tae was losing her appetite and tiring easily.

"Today is not a good day. She is lying down and tired ... she is very conscious of what she looks like with the [facial] swelling."

The family did not expect to be able to return to Tonga this year, but were fortunate in having relatives in Auckland.

"When Tae found out she had cancer she said she wanted to stay with her grandmother in Onehunga."

Mrs Kami, a former Onehunga High student, said the Pacific churches were being asked to see if they could raise money towards Tae's medical costs.

"We are asking if people could donate a dollar each at the Sunday services so it is not too much for anyone."

* Donations can be made to: Tae Kami Medical Fund, AC# 01-0210-0140714-50, ANZ Bank, Onehunga Branch, Auckland.
(Earlier account details given were incorrect.)