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Isle girl, 3, to Three-year-old Sesilia Tatofi is scheduled to receive one-third of her mother's liver tomorrow in transplant surgery in California.
receive one-third
of mom’s liver
tomorrow
The transplant surgery at
Stanford University will take
anywhere from five to
11 hours to completeBy Helen Altonn
Star-BulletinThe living-donor procedure will be performed at Stanford University's Lucille Packard Children's Hospital.
Sesilia is the daughter of Leilani and Feliuaki (Fetcho) Tatofi, a City bus operator.
The family has relocated temporarily to Belmont, Calif., and they're "totally homesick," Leilani Tatofi, 25, said in a telephone interview.
She's also "kind of scared" for her daughter. "She had one surgery done already when she was 2 months old. She was almost going to die at that time.
The Tatofi family and a committee of bus employees are organizing a benefit concert Aug. 19 at the Waikiki Shell, featuring Kapena. Other top bands also will donate time. BENEFIT CONCERT
Tickets are available through the Blaisdell Box Office, 591-2211, or at the Shell on the concert date. They are priced between $7 and $12.50, and all proceeds will go to the Tatofis.
Donations may be made to the family through Friends of Sesilia, 811 Middle St., Honolulu, HI, 96819.
"I feel scared the same way but a little more assured that it will work. She's healthier this time; she's bigger and stronger."
Sesilia was born with biliary artesia, blocking of ducts that carry bile from the liver to the intestine. She underwent a liver bypass when she was 2 months old.
Sesilia and Leilani left for California June 26 for pre-op tests. Tatofi, 26, joined them July 5 and on July 27 the family moved into a "basic" Belmont apartment for $1,800 a month.
"We couldn't afford anything in Palo Alto but the hospital said we can't live more than 30 minutes away," Leilani said.
Sesilia broke her leg in two places in mid-July -- her seventh fracture since birth because of brittle bones. Her cast was removed Friday but she can't walk yet, her mother said. Since she is small, she is being wheeled around in a stroller.
Her delicate condition prompted doctors to schedule the surgery as soon as possible.
"We've been waiting for three years (for a transplant for Sesilia), so I'm kind of excited," Leilani Tatofi said.
A living donor transplant was suggested about 1 years ago, after such surgery became more successful, she said. Both she and her husband were willing, but he wasn't a match.
"Since I'm the man of the house, it should be me taking the risk," her husband said. "But I don't have the same blood type or liver, so the least I can do is be there supportively."
He said they can't help thinking about the surgery but talking about it and asking questions gives them more confidence.
His father, Tupou Tatofi, a reverend with the Preachers of Tonga, plans to help out for several weeks. "He will be here for prayers the night before and the morning of surgery," Leilani Tatofi said.
Her mother, Nia Soule, arrived during the weekend for two weeks.
The surgery will take five to 11 hours for her and her daughter, Leilani said.
"I just put everything in God's hands; I have faith in God, and believe He will see us through this," Fetcho Tatofi said.
The family was told to plan for at least a six-month stay on the mainland.
Most medical costs will be covered by Kaiser Permanente, but the family's personal expenses for rent and living costs are estimated at about $35,000. Tatofi's co-workers at TheBus have started a fund-raising campaign to help the family. Corporate donations have raised about $15,000.
Bus company employees also have donated about 3 months of vacation time to Tatofi through a leave-sharing program.
Leilani Tatofi is a dancer with Tihati Productions and two of Fetcho Tatofi's brothers, Tivani and Timo, are members of the band Kapena.