Woman Fights Killer Disease For Children

The 43-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 when she underwent an operation at the Lautoka Hospital.

Waking up every morning to see her four children sleeping by her side is the only motivation that keeps Sonia Shainaz Nabi fighting against the killer disease, breast cancer. The 43-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 when she had an operation at the Lautoka Hospital to her right breast which was heavily infected.

With her husband as the only breadwinner, Ms Nabi said life had been hard for their family.

“We are very poor. My husband is just a fisherman and sometimes we would come back home with nothing so we have to start borrowing money to buy food and pay bills,” she said.

For the past three years they have been renting a corrugated iron house with one bedroom, a small living room and kitchen at Enamanu Road in Nadi which cost $300 a month. The water bill every month was $150 and electricity bill was $90.

Ever since she was diagnosed with the disease, her family had to provide more money to pay for her medical expenses each month.

“My children are so precious to me. They are the reason why I underwent the operation in 2010. I want to live until the day they get good jobs and every day I will ask God to give them a brighter future. Because of them I am still surviving,” Ms Nabi added.

She said it was during difficult times that people would show their true colours. Ms Nabi said the family was turned down by a religious organisation in Nadi when she went to seek assistance from them.

“Even some of my close relatives didn’t even lend a helping to help me. It is times like this when we get to see the true colours of people,” she added.

Ms Nabi thanked her parents, husband and four children for standing by her ever since 2010. “Sometimes when I start to get sick, I can see the sadness in my children, they would go without food, that is why I am fighting this disease because my children’s happiness is my happiness too,” she added. Ms Nabi said doctors had advised her to spend as much quality time with her children and family.

“I want to thank my husband. At times I will feel sorry for him because of my condition. I am at a point where I told him to find another woman, but he refused to do it and kept reassuring me that he will stand by me,” she said with tears in her eyes.