At the Wainadoi border, Laisa Masirewa-Sereiwai could not hold back her tears as she held her one-year-old son and wished him happy birthday.

It had been four months since Mrs Sereiwai and her husband had seen their son, and the short meet was worth the wait.

Jope Jassel Sereiwai’s one year birthday party did not go as planned as the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect Fiji.

The one-year-old had to celebrate his birthday with his parents at the Wainadoi border.

Mrs Sereiwai said: “From a mother’s perspective, not being able to be present at our own son’s first birthday is dismaying and somewhat heart-breaking.”

She said the pandemic had made it impossible for them to be with their son on his big day.

“Our son is staying with my parents in Nasasa, Navua. My parents are looking after him, since I am a working mom currently employed at the Ministry of Local Government.

“We would go visit him in Navua or sometimes bring him home every weekend, that was our weekly arrangement.”

She said she last saw her son in April.

The mother of two said she was grateful for the support from her parents and families who traveled from Navua to the Wainadoi border for the memorable occasion.

“We took with us a birthday cake which was made by his dad, his birthday gifts, and the rest of his stuff like his clothes, toiletries, and medications.

“At the border, my mom gave our son for me to hold and from that moment I couldn’t hold back my tears, it was one of the melancholy days in my life. I thank God for giving us an opportunity to go see our son, even if it was a short meet, it was worth a long four-month wait”.

Edited by Losirene Lacanivalu

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