Alumeci Koroitamana is the mother of James Taito, a 12-year-old boy who was diagnosed with burkitt lymphoma, a rare form of cancer, at the age of four. Today, James is thriving, attending school, playing rugby, and enjoying time with his friends.
His mother attributes their ability to overcome this challenging time to God’s grace, the dedication of the medical team, and the support from WOWS Kids Fiji. “With the incredible support from family and prayers from others, my baby survived one of the rarest cancers,” says Ms. Koroitamana.
The news of James’s cancer diagnosis deeply affected the Koroitamana family. It took doctors two months to determine the cause of James’s illness. Finally, a visiting doctor diagnosed him with burkitt lymphoma. James spent two months at CWM Hospital, during which he underwent various tests and treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy.
Ms. Koroitamana explained that a significant tumor in his large intestine was removed through surgery, but by that time, the cancer had begun to spread. They made the tough decision to start chemotherapy, acknowledging the difficulty of their situation but holding on to their faith.
As the treatment progressed, there were moments of doubt regarding the doctors’ aid and struggles with hospital visits and costs. “The burden was heavy, but we remained thankful for the doctors’ care and the overwhelming support from the community,” she expressed.
Now, James is a healthy 12-year-old student at Navuakece District School, actively playing rugby and socializing with other children. Ms. Koroitamana expressed her gratitude to WOWS Kids Fiji for their assistance during James’s treatment, which included providing recharge cards, food vouchers, transportation costs, and funds for his medication.
“We are incredibly thankful for their support and the doctors; without them, my baby wouldn’t have made it.”