On June 6th, 2022, we were overwhelmed to hear of the passing of a dear friend and colleague of ours - Elisa Lavelle Wijohn who after a brave 9-year battle succumbed to breast cancer. She was such an advocate for Whānau and her aroha for the mahi she did in the health and disability sector was tireless and selfless. We met Elisa 20 years ago when she was working at Cavit ABI as a Psychologist and she was part of Peter’s clinical team when he was first injured. I remember thinking finally someone that got me, got us as a Whānau living with a Traumatic Brain Injury. It was so traumatising, but I found that with her support we were able to find some way of dealing with our situation. After we left Cavit I always gravitated to Elisa and her to us because we had a shared experience and passion for supporting families affected by TBI. Over the years we shared time and energy supporting each other in our separate but similar journeys and kaupapa. One of my daughters decided on the day she turned 12 that she would shave her beautiful waist length hair to fundraise for a cure for cancer - donating $5000 to the charity. Elisa came to our house to tell Leata how proud she was of her and shared her own journey with breast cancer although at that time she was in remission. She was so enthusiastic and appreciative that this girl who she had known since she was only 8 months old, hanging out at a brain injury rehabilitation facility in West Auckland with her parents, had decided to make this huge commitment to a cause that had affected Elisa so significantly. We sat, we talked and she spoke such words of encouragement and praise to Leata - it was heart-warming, sincere and lived.
I ran into Elisa a few weeks ago in Westmere at the bottle store - she heard my voice and sort me out. Even though she looked so demure and tiny in her wheelchair, her voice was the same - filled with loud laughter and love even though it was very obvious she was struggling. I hoped that would not be the last time I would see my friend. Unfortunately, it was.
So, it’s taken me a week to reflect and feel sad - for her tamariki and husband especially, but for all of us who were honoured to be touched by her intention to make a difference.
Nō reira, e te tuahine, ko koe tēnā e maumaharatia ana he whaea aroha, he hoa pūmau, i pupū ake he ngākau whakamīharo mōu me te whakaae he wahine nui.
Ka mutu e māturuturu ana ō mātou roimata ki a koe me te tukuna o te aroha ki te whānau.
Arohanui Charmeyne, Peter. Safenunuivao, Leata me te Whānau o What Ever it Takes.