Rugby match for remarkable wee ‘soldier’
Little Kingston Karangaroa-Mohi loves rugby, but he’s never been able to play, so friends and family have organised something special.
The 8-year-old Napier boy’s family learnt two weeks ago that the cancer he has fought for more than four years is terminal.
The time he has left may be short.
Kingston was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2013 when he was four.
He completed treatment in July last year, and relapsed in December.
He underwent a bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, Alfie, 5, in April, but that was unsuccessful and there is no further treatment available.
Kingston’s family and friends have worked to help tick off his wish list.
He has flown to Invercargill with Alfie to ride on diggers and spent a day as a police officer in Napier.
His next adventure is organised for tomorrow with the Napier Pirates rugby club.
In the morning, Kingston is going to be flown by helicopter to the Pirates’ club rooms, where he’ll be greeted by a large crowd in costumes. He will be the guest of honour at a rugby match between teams dressed as superheroes and soldiers.
Mum Patrice said Kingston was ‘‘basically born with a rugby ball in his hands’’.
‘‘He’s always loved it, but because he’s always had a line in his chest he’s never been able to play.
‘‘I’ve always said if he didn’t become an All Black he’d become a sports commentator. He knows all the players, everything,’’ she said.
‘‘We’ve tried to do all the things he really wanted to do or be.’’
Kingston’s parents and grandparents have played for and supported the Pirates. It is also the home club of All Black Israel Dagg, a good buddy of Kingston’s.
‘‘Throughout his treatment we’ve always called him our soldier. It’s just incredible what he’s been through. And when Alfie gave him the bone marrow we called him our superhero. And that’s where the name for the match came from,’’ Patrice said.
Friends Kate Frame and Clea Drew have done much of the organising, and are staying mum on some details.
‘‘We only know he’s being flown to the ground in the helicopter and that people have been asked to come along dressed up. We don’t know who will be playing or who will be there or much else really,’’ Patrice said.
‘‘We really hope lots of people come along. It’s all happened really quickly and become this big epic event. It’s incredible what people have done,’’ she said.
Kingston was bound to spend the day wearing his customary grin, she said. ‘‘Every photo of him, he’s always smiling. He’s got this real infectious smile,’’ she said.
Kingston, who turns 9 next month, was in hospital yesterday for a blood and platelet transfusion.
‘‘People say he’s got a really old soul. He can sit down and just chat away with anyone about anything.
‘‘He’s so loving and caring and thoughtful of others. No matter what he’s going through he still thinks about how others are dealing with it,’’ Patrice said.
‘‘We don’t know how much longer we’ve got left with him. We’re not focusing on that. We’re looking at what we can do with the time that we have. We’re going to make every day he has left amazing,’’ she said.
❚ The Superheroes v Soljahs match kicks off at 10am tomorrow.