It’s my job as a daughter

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 18 April 2016, 12:00AM

Selepa Esera is a single mother of 27 years of age, who has dedicated her time to care for her 71-year-old mother Selepa Esera Tufuga. 

Selepa lives with her mother and her five year old daughter at their home at Leauva’a. 

Some time ago, Mrs Tufuga suffered a stroke which has affected her right side and her ability to speak.

Selepa is part of the Caregivers training offered by the Samoa Victim Support Group. 

“It’s going for to 2 to 3 years,” said Ms Esera. 

“I learnt things that I didn’t know before especially about how to deal with my sick mother.” 

“I help her do her exercise in my spare time, because I want her to get back her strength she had before,” said Ms Esera. 

“There are times when I have thought about giving up, there are times when I thought to myself that I have had enough, but with the support from the S.V.S.G. it has kept me going.”

Ms Esera is the youngest daughter of Mrs Esera Tufuga and the only one living in Samoa.

Her normal routine every morning is making sure that her mother eats her breakfast

She also makes sure that food is on the table at all times of the day because her mother is always hungry. 

And although her mother can’t talk, she knows when she is hungry. 

“She cries every time she wants something or when she sees that I’m not around,” added Ms Esera. 

“I am happy because she can eat everything that I give her.” 

And although her mother doesn’t like anything too noisy, like the radio and the television, she still turns them on to cheer her up and keep her mind active. 

“Doing this job for my elderly mother is something that I will never regret because I know she never gave up on us when we were young.”

“I grew up seeing and feeling her love towards me and it’s time for me to make her feel the same way.” 

By Pai Mulitalo Ale 18 April 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>