If you want to make a donation to baby David and the Lomu-Penitani family you may doing so with ease through paypal.  Through these tough times and while he will continue to go through his surgeries the family could sure use your support, and every little bit helps.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts xox Love Always and Ofa Atu as we say in the Islands ~Rion Morgan~ 

10.03.2014 Amazing Development that brought tears to my eyes. After 2 years 9 months, David finally learned to play with the Thomas train toys instead of putting it in his mouth. We are grateful and pleased with every milestone he accomplished so far. ~Penitani Family~

07.29.14 At the Primary Children Hospital seeing Dave's second neurologist. The first one whom we had been seeing during this last two years admitted that she ran out ideas and she couldn't diagnose Dave's problem. Then she referred us to this male neurologist and after meeting him awhile ago for the first time and talked about yesterday's MRI, he humbly admitted that he too can't figure out any diagnosis for Dave. The good news is--Dave still shows progress regardless of his undiscovered deficiency. And he who holds the stars in place and calls each one by name also knows what's exactly going on in Dave's brain. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. ~Penitani Family~

07.17.2014  In February 2012, we learned that David had swallowing issues plus food was going through his airway to his lungs instead of his stomach and was diagnosed with several medical issues including laryngeal cleft type 1. Since then, David has had 6 surgeries and has seen about 18 different types of specialists and doctors it will be 20 by the end of this month. The last 2 years he has failed every fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation swallowing (FEES) study and swallow test. This week, he passed which means he can eat through his mouth and can have 2-4 ounces of food (mashed potatoes and pudding) 3 times a day. Never again will I take swallowing and tasting food for granted.. Thank you to all of you who prayed for David and supported us through the past 2 years. Continue to pray with us that he continues to improve and that he will be able to walk. ~Nesi~

10.24.13 Dear friends, I ask for prayers for my nephew baby David. David has been diagnosed with laryngeal cleft type 1 when he was about 6 months. Laryngeal cleft is a rare disorder that occurs in less than 0.1 percent of the population. It is a rare abnormality which creates an opening between the larynx and the esophagus so food and liquid passes through the larynx into the lungs rather than directly into the stomach resulting in pneumonia and bronchiolitis. In David’s case, it is usually his saliva and sometimes his food when he aspirates/reflux. The Botox of the salivary glands and endoscopic repair of the laryngeal cleft will help protect his lungs and hopefully cut down the ER and hospital visits throughout the year. David’s 5th surgery will be at about 8:30am or 9am tomorrow (October 24th) at Primary Children’s Medical Center and will last about 2.5 hours. David will be admitted immediately to ICU right after the surgery and expected to be at the hospital for about 5-10 days depending on his recovery. Please pray with me for the following:

1. Will be no complications with the surgery. The last time David had surgery, his left lung collapsed.
2. Pray for wisdom for the Surgeon: Dr. Albert Park and for those assisting him.
3. Pray for full recovery and David’s ability & strength to handle pain and maintain his feeds (refer to food through the G-tube because he cannot take anything orally).
4. Pray for our family: An unwavering faith, continued trust, rest & peace. For Daniel (5 yrs old) and Katalina’s (3 yrs old) protection, good health and understanding.
Again, thank you for partnering with us in prayers and thoughts for my baby nephew David, and my sister Nesi and our entire Lomu-Penitani family. If you can or want to help with donations PLEASE click the "Donate" button above. 

06.12.2013 

Eighth day in the hospital. The little people visited and cheered David on his remarkable recovery. Great SATS last night. Totally off O2 since 10 pm. HR and RR are normal. We maybe discharged today. PTL. Thank you for all of your prayers & support. This page will stay up until we can make a difference and help the Doctor's find the issue causing baby David to have so many complications.  Let's do everything we can to help my nephew to grow up big and strong and a healthy young man.  I asked that if you have anything you can donate to my sister and her family you give as you can.  Their family is in Utah and my nephew's heart briefly stopped on the 8th of this month and as his mother sat in the helicopter while the flight crew worked to bring him back to us we were blessed to get our baby David back. Please if you are reading this you must know me and have an interest in helping in some way.  If it is not money, prayers are always welcomed! If you have any other donations you have to give please email me at [email protected] and in the subject line just put "Baby David" we can help in getting items to them in Utah.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts xox Love Always and Ofa Atu as we say in the Islands ~Rion Morgan

06.09.2013

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. David is improving and more active today than the last 5 days. His heart rate is normal and his breathing still struggling but has shown great improvement especially with that smile.

06.08.2013

First time on a helicopter is with David being on a life flight to Primary Children's Hospital. Pray with us for recovery!! A holiday weekend planned to be in Washington ended up canceling to be with David at the hospital. Looks like we will be spending at least a week here. Docs still trying to figure out what to do since the last treatment s are not working.

12.24.2012 

While standing in line with a cart filled with groceries and gifts at Costco, the cashier keeps asking my 4 year old if he is excited for Santa Claus to visit him and if he has been naughty or nice. My son looks at her, then looks at me, then at her again and was probably wondering what in the world this lady is talking about. My son did not respond so the Cashier repeatedly asked him again about Santa Claus so finally I said; my son does not know who Santa Claus is. The Cashier says, “Do you not celebrate Christmas?” I replied, “We do celebrate Christmas, and as my son says, almost every day for the last two weeks, “Mommy, it is Jesus’ birthday coming up.” Now, that is Christmas to my 4 year old. 

~ Love Nesi ~

12.06.2012

Happy 1st birthday David! He is glad to be home in time for his birthday.

11.30.2012

Dear friends,

The latest news with David is that he is having a C1 laminectomy surgergy on Monday, December 3rd in the morning. David had another brain MRI on 11/21/2012 and CAT scan on 11/26/2012 and the results showed that his cervical spinal cord in the highest vertebrae where his neck connects to his head is being compressed to the point where it is narrower and may later cause him to be paralyzed. It is serious enough because his previous brain MRI in March 2012 did not show any issues with this (C1). 8 months later it is becoming narrow down to about 6 cms but normally it should be 12 cms. This is caused from a lot of his head movements where he flops to the side and cannot hold his head and it keeps compressing the spinal canal. The surgical procedure is called C1 Laminectomy for decompression and it is used to open up space in the spinal canal and help alleviate the symptoms and to remove pressure from nerve roots. The great news from his CAT scan is that his bones are not deteriorating so this can be fixed and hopefully will help with any pain he is experiencing or will have. We were told that there are other abnormalities and anomalies in his brain but we will deal with things one other a time. The Neurologist and Neurosurgeon explained that this surgery may or may not help the other medical issues he has such as Laryngeal Cleft type 1, swallowing, severe hypotonia, etc. but at least of having the assurance that he will not be paralyzed. We will be staying in the hospital overnight and the neurosurgeon is very confident about the surgery and that he is one of the best here in Utah.

Keep praying for David because he still has a long way ahead of him with treatments and therapies. Please pray that he does not get broncholitis this winter. He had it 3 times this year and we have been trying our very best not to expose him to sick people or even take him out unless we are going to church, doctor visits or if we need to. Pray that the surgery will go well and with no complications and for a fast recovery for David.

Please pray for Seni and myself. Pray for Godly wisdom because we want to be able to make the right and best decisions for David and all his treatments. Pray for strength and patience - lots of it because we do not want David's special needs to affect Katalina and Daniel too much. We are trying as much as possible to spend time with them both and individually and to make sure they still get dates and special times with us. I have to tell it is hard but yet possible.

Thank you for your continued prayers and your encouragement. We appreciate you all.

Nesi & Seni