The young man from Manu’a diagnosed with leukemia and was transplanted wth his sister’s bone marrow passed away early yesterday morning at Stanford Medical Center, Palo Alto.
According to relatives, Letini Ricky Fala Mauga, went into a coma during one of his bone marrow transplant sessions. “His body was too weak for the chemo and transplant.”
Staff at the Stanford Medical Center allowed his two sisters, Faavela the bone marrow donor and her twin sister who acted as their care giver to be by his side during his final moments.
Manu’atele Worldwide Community Face Book page said that Fala’s parents, Samoa Letini Mauga and Fa’iga Mauga, held a small service in Ta’u yesterday for their son.
The sisters are now awaiting family members in California to make arrangements for the return of Letini home for burial once the borders open.
The family posted a request on Face Book to please stop posting picture of Letini on his deathbed.
“When he got diagnosed with his cancer he wanted to share pictures of him smiling…If anything he wished to do is to not post any pic(s) of him with his sick face…now that he has passed on, please let’s share his great memories & happy moments & not to post his pictures while resting. Let us grieve knowing he left a big impact in our lives.”
A GoFundMe donation page for Letini Ricky Fala Mauga has been set up to help with costs for bringing him home.
KHJ News extends deepest condolence to Letini’s parents and siblings for their loss.
