By NATALIE GALLENTI
MAKERETA Matalolu is living every parent’s worst nightmare.
The Caroline Springs mother saw her beloved son Mini pass away from Muscular Dystrophy in June and now she is watching another of her precious children, Caleb, suffer from the same devastating effects of the disease.
Yet Makereta can still smile, especially when she remembers Mini and his determination to live.
It was in 2001 that the Fijian-born mother-of-four first took her son to see a specialist at the Royal Children’s Hospital after noticing his physical development wasn’t on par with other six-year-olds.
She received the diagnosis almost immediately and, because she was pregnant with Caleb at the time, had to undergo an amniocentesis to see if her unborn child was also carrying the genetic disorder – he was.
“I did all my crying then… years ago, we were expecting it, but not so soon,” Makereta told Star.
“I grieved for Mini then… and I was just relieved for him… so he wasn’t in anymore pain.”
Muscular Dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper movement. The disease is characterised by progressive muscle weakness and eventually the death of muscle cells and tissue.
Mini lived to 18 years, two years longer than what doctors had initially estimated. He passed away when he caught a simple cold and his heart just couldn’t withstand the immense pressure put on his ailing body.
Now 12-year-old Caleb is fighting the same agonising battle as his older brother faced. He is wheelchair bound and has to be turned at least five to six times a night by his mother.
“Caleb is more scared than hurt… he had to see what his brother went through and he knows he will go through it,” she said.
“It’s heartbreaking but there is nothing you can do… my job is to make them as comfortable and as happy as I can. I believe every breath is a miracle.”
“But why so soon? That is always in the back of my mind.”
And if life wasn’t hard enough for the family, last December Makereta’s husband and the boys’ father walked out of the family home, leaving the struggling mother with not even enough money to buy food.
“From having everything we had nothing. I couldn’t even afford to make a trifle for Christmas. I would cook for my children and then just eat their leftovers,” she said.
However, the Caroline Springs community came to the family’s aid and supported them through the festive season – donating gifts and food.
“I was amazed, embarrassed. I’m used to giving, not taking.”
Now the close-knit community is coming together once again to raise much needed funds for Makereta and her boys, in particular Caleb, who requires significant modification to his wheelchair.
Makereta is also in the process of paying off a specially designed car that provides wheelchair access.
Taylors Hill resident Sasha Planinic has organised a family fun day to raise money for the family. The event will be held on Sunday 6 October at Kingswim Caroline Springs from 11am to 4pm. There will be a silent auction, duck raffle and spinning wheel with prizes to be won and fun activities throughout the day.
Anyone interested in donating items should contact Sasha at calebsfamilyfunday@gmail.com. For more information on the event visit the Facebook page Calebs Family Fun Day.
