ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND
Boy teased for having 'puka in shirt, pants'
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
"V.F." and her husband moved to Hawai'i from Samoa in September 2002 seeking medical care for one of their three sons, who has a heart problem.
A fourth son, the couple's first child, died in 1987 at age 2, and V.F. is convinced the boy would be alive if he had had better medical care.
Her second-oldest son, now 11, fell ill but doctors in Samoa could not find anything wrong with him. So the family moved to Hawai'i, where the boy is being treated for a heart murmur.
Monetary donations also may be dropped off at any First Hawaiian Bank branch. Goods can be donated at the Community Clearinghouse at 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For details, call 440-3804.
The family moved into a public housing unit four months ago. They have enough money to put food on the table, but not for anything else, including clothes for the three boys, ages 9 to 13.
To donate, send checks payable to "The Advertiser Christmas Fund" to Helping Hands Hawai'i, P.O. Box 17780, Honolulu, HI 96817.
"They wear the same clothes every day," V.F. said. "My son, the one with the heart murmur, is kind of shy. He came home from school one day and I see in his face that he is mad, so I ask him what is wrong. He tell me, 'Mom, my friends tease me about the clothes. I got puka in my shirt, puka in my pants.'"
V.F. got material to sew some clothes, but the boys could use more. The family also needs a sofa.
