Desperate mother goes public to save her baby

By Talaia Mika 24 November 2020, 8:00PM

The family of a five-month-old baby, who was born with a rare condition called hydrocephalus, is desperate for medical assistance to save her life.

And although it appears impossible at this stage with COVID-19 border restrictions closing the door on international travel, Iaeli Lui, the mother of baby Fatima Lui, of Vaiusu, remains hopeful.

She believes the only way for her daughter to be treated if she is granted a special exemption by the Government to be taken overseas for a much-needed operation.

Hydrocephalus is a condition that causes the enlargement of the head due to blockage in the flow of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Iaeli said she found out soon after conception that her child has the rare medical condition. She had to undergo a cesarean section when she delivered baby because her head was too big.

But that was only the beginning of the challenges.

“Even after birth, there we were so confused on whether she will live or even live normally because of what the doctors said,” she said.

As a mother, Iaeli said she can not stop worrying about her child.

“We’ve had the last her check-up around August because the doctor (at Motootua) told us that we needed to stop with the check-ups and just wait for their call and that was it,” she said.

“That was after they asked for my daughter’s passports and everything so we stopped going there and we gave a try for another doctor who apparently told us that only those with overseas citizenships including babies are eligible to travel overseas for such treatments.”

In the meantime, baby Fatima’s head continues to grow bringing a whole lot of other complications, the mother said.

"She used to eat normally but now she keeps crying without a reason.”

But the parents are not giving up.

They have taken the initiative themselves to try and raise funds just in case they get a call for baby to be flown overseas for treatment.

A Go Fund Me page set up by Fatima’s aunt details the story. Their target is $30,000.

Baby Fatina is the youngest of eight. The eldest is 22 years old.

The 41-year-old mother said Government and the Ministry of Health may not be of help now it’s not going to stop her from knocking on their doors and praying for her daughter to be taken overseas.

“If you can help towards our dear baby's treatment, my family and I would be eternally grateful,” she said.

“We are seeking for any help from anywhere as we are in desperate need of someone to take a chance on our only child.”

By Talaia Mika 24 November 2020, 8:00PM

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