The 43-year-old was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 when she underwent an operation at the Lautoka Hospital.

Waking up every morn­ing to see her four children sleeping by her side is the only motiva­tion that keeps Sonia Shainaz Nabi fighting against the kill­er disease, breast cancer.

The 43-year-old was diag­nosed with breast cancer in 2010 when she had an opera­tion at the Lautoka Hospital to her right breast which was heavily infected.

With her husband as the only breadwinner, Ms Nabi said life had been hard for their family.

“We are very poor. My hus­band is just a fisherman and sometimes we would come back home with nothing so we have to start borrowing mon­ey to buy food and pay bills,” she said.

For the past three years they have been renting a corru­gated iron house with one bed­room, a small living room and kitchen at Enamanu Road in Nadi which cost $300 a month. The water bill every month was $150 and electricity bill was $90.

Ever since she was diagnosed with the disease, her family had to provide more money to pay for her medical expenses each month.

“My children are so precious to me. They are the reason why I underwent the opera­tion in 2010. I want to live un­til the day they get good jobs and every day I will ask God to give them a brighter future. Because of them I am still sur­viving,” Ms Nabi added.

She said it was during diffi­cult times that people would show their true colours.

Ms Nabi said the family was turned down by a religious or­ganisation in Nadi when she went to seek assistance from them.

“Even some of my close rela­tives didn’t even lend a help­ing to help me. It is times like this when we get to see the true colours of people,” she added.

Ms Nabi thanked her par­ents, husband and four chil­dren for standing by her ever since 2010.

“Sometimes when I start to get sick, I can see the sadness in my children, they would go without food, that is why I am fighting this disease because my children’s happiness is my happiness too,” she added.

Ms Nabi said doctors had advised her to spend as much quality time with her children and family.

“I want to thank my husband. At times I will feel sorry for him because of my condition. I am at a point where I told him to find another woman, but he refused to do it and kept reas­suring me that he will stand by me,” she said with tears in her eyes.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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