A mother’s journey from Vanuatu for her son’s life-saving surgery

Updates / News, 30 Jul 24

For Vanessa Tari, a dedicated mother from Ambae, Vanuatu, the path of sacrifice led her and her seven-year-old son, Junior, to Suva, Fiji, in pursuit of life-saving heart surgery. Junior was the first of 13 children who arrived in Suva to receive cardiac surgery; he has now been discharged with a new lease on life. For Ms Tari, leaving everything behind was an easy choice because it meant saving her son's life. We spoke to her about what this opportunity meant for her and her family.

This opportunity was coordinated by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) through the Uto Bulabula – Healthy Hearts initiative, part of the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS). Supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), this initiative focuses on providing critical cardiac care to children.

Vanessa recalls the moment she discovered her son's condition and her determination to get him the help he needed.

“He was diagnosed with a heart condition when he was just a one year old so I kept going to the hospital for appointments. When he was five, a group from New Zealand found that he had a hole in his heart.

“The option that they gave to me was to travel to New Zealand. But then one of the doctors in Vanuatu called us one day and said we could go to Fiji.”

One of Ms Tari’s biggest worries was the cost of the surgery, an unimaginable expense for her family. But through the Uto Bulabula initiative, all costs for flights, accommodation, and the life-saving surgery were covered.

“It has been a big challenge for me because I didn’t have the money to pay for Junior’s surgery. This was a big blessing for me and Junior to come to Fiji to have his operation.

Having been discharged, Junior will continue his recovery under the care of the Pasifika Medical Association’s in-country locum Paediatrician Dr Maryanne Kora’ai, who will continue to receive support from the Hearts4Kids team and the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWM). Ms Tari looks forward to returning home and dreams of a brighter future for her son.

“Junior doesn’t go to school, and I homeschool him. I also resigned [my job] because of his condition. When we get back home, I hope for him to start back at school for a better future. One day I hope Junior can become a doctor because of this big challenge he faced and went through.”

“I want to thank everyone for helping with our trip to Fiji. Now he will go back home as a normal kid.”

The Uto Bulabula - Healthy Hearts initiative is funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and coordinated by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Group, through the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme.

Keep updated on the Uto Bulabula Project through our PMA social media platforms, and hear more about the project at our upcoming PMA Conference.

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