Sua Family Fund

Psalm 116:1-2

I love the Lord for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

Lisa Maree Su’a, my wonderful wife, beautiful mother to my kids and caring friend to all was claimed by Breast Cancer on the 17th of October 2023. She struggled with her cancer for years, a true warrior until the very end.

17 years ago, my wife Lisa was diagnosed with Triple negative Breast cancer which was found thanks to the birth of our 3rd child, Isaiah, who was premature. Divine intervention or coincidence, he saved her life. We were told she would never be able to have children again, and along came our 4th child in 2013, Ari’elle, our little miracle baby.

In 2019-2020, we decided to move to Wagga Wagga from Sydney so I could take up a role as a prison Chaplain. A year later I was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer and had to do treatment. Lisa supported our kids until we were able to fully move down to Wagga Wagga. In 2021, Lisa was advised that the breast cancer had returned. She signed up for a trial.

After this treatment, the trial was unsuccessful, Lisa was told that she needed a mastectomy. After the mastectomy she was told that she needed to do another round of chemo. Lisa completed the second round of chemo, which made 3 rounds within 2 years. Four rounds all up if you count the first time.

Not long after Lisa finished her chemo, I had gone in for check up with the oncologist, who informed me I had a new tumour in my oesophagus and was referred immediately to a surgeon to do the Ivor Lewis procedure or an Esophagectomy. The surgery went for 10 hours, and afterwards, I ended up in an induced coma for 2-3 weeks. Not only was Lisa fresh from doing her chemo, now she had to deal with me being in a coma. She was by my side the entire time, feeling the burden of my being in my coma the most. I remember her singing to me and putting headphones on my ears and I had one song on repeats for hours.

This year- August, Lisa started to feel headaches, and my son, Isaiah, once again saved her life by taking her straight to the emergency room. They found she had two brain tumours.

She was flown to St. Vincents Hospital Sydney, where we were informed she had 4 months to 2 years left. She continued to work and be the mother to our children and the loving wife while declining slowly. She refused to give up work as she didn’t want to burden the family financially.

We found out through another emergency hospital trip that she had a lot of fluid around her heart and blood clots in her lungs and that the cancer was extremely aggressive- they estimated she had around 4 days left.

Lisa passed away on Tuesday 17th around 4:30 am, leaving behind 4 children and a husband, even on her deathbed she was giving orders and worrying about her family before herself.

She will be deeply missed, she was an intense light of love and fire, lighting up any room she was in with her smile and outgoing personality. Everyone she encountered knew they were loved, and everyone she spoke to felt her fire. Anything you can give is appreciated, thoughts, prayers, money- anything and everything matters.

Alofa atu, arohanui, ofa lahi atu Lisa.