Generous response to family’s cancer plight

Last week Nykala Garrett was worried she would be paying off her partner Rikki Tako’s funeral for the rest of her life. Now they are planning their wedding.

Late last year Garrett quit work to care for Tako after he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and given a matter of months to live.

The pair, who have a blended family of five children, went public last week about how Tako’s illness had left them despondent and in extreme financial hardship. Since their story appeared in the

Taranaki Daily News on Saturday they have received nearly $40,000 through a Givealittle page set up to help the family.

“It leaves me speechless in a way, but in a good way. I just wasn’t expecting it to blow up as well as it did,” Garrett said.

“The generosity has been insane. Just with how hard the economy has been hit at the moment, it’s so amazing how generous people still are.”

Part of the money would be used to pay for Tako’s funeral, an event they had already planned and estimated would cost at least $15,000.

Previously Garrett had been worried she would have to take out a loan.

“I would have been paying it off for the rest of my life. I won’t be able to go back to work for a while, because the kids will need me around.”

And the generosity towards the family hadn’t just been in money donated.

The couple had talked about getting married, but never had the chance to do so, she said.

Now New Plymouth celebrant Beverley Mclean had offered to donate her services, so the couple would tie the knot with a beachside wedding next week.

The wedding wouldn’t cost them anything, except for the $20 dress Garrett bought at a clearance sale.

Garrett also planned to get an adjustable electric bed for Tako, who was too tall for an adjustable hospital bed.

This would allow him to sleep sitting up, which helped to prevent his respiratory system giving way during the night.

The family’s plight was in part because of their age. Both were in their 30s and Garrett was considered “able-bodied”, which she said made them ineligible for a carer to come and look after Tako. She had tried every avenue to get help for her family, but there was nothing available.

Tako’s aggressive cancer was found after he was concussed in a workplace accident last year. The tumour was always there but it was the injury which caused the cell dysfunction that led to its rapid growth.

Had he not suffered the injury it is it likely the tumour would not have been a problem until he was in his 50s or 60s.

VANESSA LAURIE/STUFF Rikki Tako, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer just before Christmas, and partner Nykala Garrett can breathe easier after nearly $40,000 was donated to help them navigate their family’s final months together.

The Garrett-tako family celebrate Tako’s Ngāti Porou heritage with traditional tā moko and kākahu, the photo shoot a precious moment of joy during months of heartache.