Talamua

by Lance Polu
Photos by Dorcas Ripine

APIA: 1 September 2010: Three years ago today, the doctors at the National Hospital left her to die saying her condition was so serious that she will die within three days.

She was born with serious defects, mainly on her face that prompted rumours that put blame on the parents "who may have something to hide."

Wailing throughout the day, the father, touched by her cries, defied doctors orders and sneaked in to feed her.

Baby Miracle survived past three days as predicted and caused a ripple of emotions that touched so many hearts, and started a campaign to give her the proper treatment and respect to be accorded as to any other human life.  

It was when people like businessman and politician Joe Keil and Papalii Carol Ah Chong and To'oa Kristin Taylor of the Thorn Ministries and many other individuals, got behind the fundraising efforts to get the baby much needed specialized medical treatment.

Baby Miracletina finally managed to get the series of surgery and treatment required at the Miami Childrens Hospital in late 2007. But alot more needs to be done which costs a lot of money.

Three years on, and growing in size and demands as an individual with special needs, she remains under the care of Papalii Carol Ah Chong.

She and Tooa Kristin Taylor were amongst the few who gathered at the MacDonald's Restaurant this afternoon to celebrate Baby Miracle's third birthday.

Talking to Talamua, she praised God "for the life and good health she and Baby Mircale have had in three years and thanked all who heldped out."

She would not discuss the challenges she faces everyday looking after Baby Miracle saying "that she will only stop when God decides on baby Miracle's life."

Also present were father Spa Silva who is Baby Mircale's spiritual father "right from the day she was born", Joe Keil, Baby Miracles grandmother, biological father Mikaele and a few friends.

APIA: 30 August 2010: Cabinet has approved financial assistance of USD$50,000.00 for the Government of China to assist the people of the Province of Zhouqu, Gansu which were affected by flooding 8 August, 2010.

Latest reports say the disaster has killed 1,407 people, and has also destroyed properties and residences and about 300 people are still missing.

A Cabinet statement said "The Government of Samoa wishes to help the Government of China by donating this money to help its people as they have also helped Samoa in the past years."

It is not the first time the Samoan Government has donated monetary assistance to the victims of disaster stricken areas of China.

The landslides
At midnight on Sunday, August 8th, a temporary lake caused by a recent landslide broke loose above the town of Zhouqu, in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, China. The outflow slid down the valley as a wall of mud, wiping out houses and muli-story buildings, and killing at least 1,144 residents - with over 300 still reported as missing. More than 10,000 soldiers and rescuers arrived soon to comb through the mountains of mud that buried several parts of Zhouqu County. Engineers also worked to blast the debris that had passed through the town to partially block the Bailong River, causing further flooding.