Children Motivates Cancer Mum to Survive
Battling with cancer and looking after the family wasn’t easy for Mele Koroi. The 50-year-old who is originally from Mavana Vanua Balavu, Lau, has survived stage four breast cancer after a successful operation that took place in late 2017.
Five years down the lane, Mrs Koroi is still alive and enjoying her life to the fullest.
A mother of five, has described her journey as an emotional breakdown while worrying about her children.
“I know when a person is diagnosed with cancer, their mind will turn negative,” she said.
“My children were still schooling when I got diagnosed. The only thing that kept me going was my children and my husband’s support.
“In 2012, I first noticed a lump on my right breast and I straight went to see the doctor at the private hospital.
“A doctor took samples from my breast and told me that once they obtained the result of my diagnosed, they will remove my breast away if it is more than 2 centimeters- but it is better to remove the whole breast.
“This was my turning point- I walked away from the doctor from my mind. I could not accept what I was told in particular about the removal of my breast.”
Mrs Koroi said her treatment was done at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital.
“After the removal of right breast, I felt relieved. I just kept thanking God because without him, I wouldn’t pass this journey.
“I was on vegetarian diet before I went for my surgery. After surgery, my life had changed. I was able to spend time with my family, go out with them.
“This was an opportunity for me to relax, heal and have a positive mindset.”
She said she never let her sickness deter her children.
“I sat and explained everything to my children. I taught them values about spiritual and physical life,” she said.
She said her children had always motivated her, even though two of them were married.
“My married daughters always visit me; they bring me groceries. They have always loved me and every mother’s day, they bake me a cake,” Mrs Koroi said.
She advised mothers who was battling with cancer to have a positive mindset and to put god first.
“If you put god first, you will see that you are spiritually and physically prepared and everything will fall in its place.”