Advertiser Christmas Fund
Pacific immigrants struggle to stay here

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

"The seizures, it's coming down," A.N. said of the eldest of her six children and only daughter. "When we stay in Saipan, every night she has seizures. Since we come here, maybe one or two times a month.

"It's better here. For education, she cannot go to school in Saipan."

The girl, who cannot walk or speak, attends Jefferson's orthopedic school. Each morning, her father or mother carries her down from their second-story, two-bedroom apartment in Mo'ili'ili so she can go to school. Their landlord is fixing up a ground-floor unit for the family.

	How to make a donation
•	Checks made payable to The Advertiser Christmas Fund should be mailed to
	Helping Hands Hawai'i
	P.O. Box 19155
	Honolulu, HI 96817
•	Donations may also be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch.
•	Anyone wishing to donate goods instead of money can do so at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway near Pu'uhale Street. For details, call 536-7234.

A.N., 29, said the family moved from Micronesia to Saipan and then Guam in search of medical care for the girl. "I am wishing she will walk," A.N. said.

Because the girl qualifies for federal assistance, her medical expenses have not created an overwhelming burden for her parents. Until K.N. finds a job, the family is surviving on welfare benefits and assistance from members of their extended Micronesian family here.

They've been making do with simple meals — mostly chicken and rice. "Us, never mind," A.N. said. "Children very important."

A.N. would like clothes and educational toys for her children, ages 9, 6, 5, 4 and 18 months. All are big for their age. Their sizes range from 3 toddler to a 12 dress size.

As a Christmas treat, A.N. would also like to prepare a special meal for her family. Franks, some ribs, sweet potatoes, rice and tapioca would be nice, she said.

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