At the age of three, Alisi Angel Ravouvou Verevinaka’s life took a dramatic turn when her mother received the devastating news that she had cancer. Alisi, the youngest of four siblings, had been experiencing severe stomach pain, which her family initially attributed to something she might have eaten.
However, a visit to the Nausori Health Centre in 2017 uncovered a more serious problem. Doctors suspected fluid in her liver and promptly transferred her to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva. For a week, Alisi and her mother anxiously awaited test results, including a CT scan.
When the diagnosis of Wilms’ tumour, a rare kidney cancer, was confirmed, Alisi’s mother, Alinda Alice Verevinaka, felt her world crumble. “When I found out that she had cancer, I was broken. As we all know, no one survives cancer,” she recalled. Despite her heartbreak, she resolved to remain strong for Alisi, praying continuously and hiding her fears from her young daughter.
Alisi began chemotherapy as her condition worsened with swelling in her abdomen over the next three months. The family faced immense challenges as they spent considerable time away from home for treatment. Alinda expressed gratitude for her husband’s family, who supported them by caring for Alisi’s siblings during this difficult time.
Financial stress compounded their struggles, as Alisi’s father was the family’s only provider. Yet, during their darkest moments, they found hope through the charity WOWS Kids Fiji. Alinda shared, “We didn’t have much money at that time, but we were introduced to the WOWS family. They helped us with medical bills, transportation, and food while we were at the hospital.”
In February 2018, Alisi successfully underwent surgery to remove her right kidney and part of her liver. Though the operation was a success, her fight against cancer continued as she had to travel to Christchurch, New Zealand, for six weeks of radiation treatment to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
Today, six years later, Alisi is cancer-free and thriving, embodying the resilience of a child and the unwavering devotion of her mother. She aspires to become a flight attendant, a dream supported wholeheartedly by her parents.
Alisi’s journey serves as a profound reminder of a mother’s love, the significance of community aid, and the power of human tenacity. Her story demonstrates that even against overwhelming challenges, hope and determination can forge pathways to remarkable recoveries.