[[sad that the only image I have here in New York is one that has Paula & Mote in it...hahahha]]Filipo's parents have been sick on and off for about a year now. Sometimes it would be his dad and sometimes it was his mom. Last June 2010 we went to Tonga for a month. We spent most of the time in Vava'u with Filipo's parents and older sisters. It was the first time anyone had seen Finau and they absolutely loved him to death. Finau Leka had so much fun over there with all the kids.
It was so cute when we'd come outside and see Finau Lahi & Finau Leka sitting together trying to squeeze into the door frame eating watermelons and watching the cows in the backyard. They were too cute but everybody that knows Finau knows that last year he was such a little bugger and he wouldn't go to anybody when he was in one of his moods so moments like that only happened once in a while.
We left Tonga and both of my in-laws were doing okay. Then in November they came to Hawaii for two months with my sister-in-law Kalo and spent some time with Finau Leka & Filipo. I haven't seen Filipo at home so much in ages but he loved spending time with his family and talking story for hours. While Finau Lahi was in Hawaii near the end of his trip he wasn't eating very much at all. He'd have a little bit of cocoa rice and bread but not really anything else.
We've been calling back and forth with the family in Vava'u for the last few months and found out a few things. Finau had this thing growing on his neck and everyone thought it was some little thing that a lot of older people get and it wouldn't be a problem. It turned out once they went to the doctor on the main island that Finau had cancer in his throat. It was hard because nobody knew how long he would live not even the doctors so in April we flew Filipo's parents back to Vava'u just in case. His older sister called a few weeks ago and told him if he could make it he needed to come out.
His brothers had finished digging the grave and the doctor took him off life support so he had a short time to get home. Filipo flew out in the middle of June for two weeks. He spent every day in the house with his dad. Some days were better than others but when his two weeks were up and he needed to get home his dad was still alive. My sister-in-law Kalina called last Wednesday night and said Finau finally passed away. It's been weird because Filipo's at home by himself in Virginia while Finau and I are in New York. I'm glad Filipo got to see his father before he passed away and that Finau Leka had the chance to know his namesake and spend time together. I know it's hard for everybody to be so far apart especially since Filipo's the baby of the family and it's hard since they're not members of the LDS church. Hopefully things will work out but for now we're just taking one day at a time and trying to get back home.
Love you long time Finau Lahi...
