Tomasi Mara had everything going for him.
A teacher in training, he also had a very promising career as a rugby professional.
He was the youngest prop to be included in the Nadroga Stallions side and even had an offer from a club in Australia.
But the 23-year-old gave it all up to take care of his 46-year-old mother, Michelle Bomany.
She explained how she met her second husband and moved to New Zealand.
After five years away, she got sick as a result of being physically abused and returned home.
“I returned to Fiji because I became partially blind and the left part of my body was affected after I had a stroke,” she said.
“I was lucky my boss in New Zealand paid for my airplane fare to return home in 2011 because the condition of my health was not good.”
Ms Bomany said she was blessed that Tomasi, who was raised by her father when she separated from her first husband, began taking care of her.
When his grandfather passed away in 2009, Tomasi went to live with his biological father.
“We finally managed to be reunited in 2011 when I returned from New Zealand,” she said.
“At that time, I was able to see a little but my eyesight was failing and I was very weak.
“In 2016, doctors said I was legally blind. It was so hard because Tomasi was still in Year 13 at Labasa College.”
Tomasi said when he learnt of his mother’s condition, he made every effort to find her. He said his focus now was taking care of her.
“I don’t want to be away from her, especially after what we went through when I was left behind when she went to New Zealand with my stepdad,” he said.
Tomasi said taking care of his mother had not been easy.
“The most challenging part is at night when she calls out to me if she needs something.
“I can say that I’m the man and woman of the house, because I do the washing, cooking, baking, cleaning of the house and bathing my mom, changing her diapers and all.”
He said that he was grateful for the help he received from the Social Welfare Department and his relatives.
“I know I am missing out on a lot with the opportunities from rugby and all the things that young people do, that I can’t because I have to take care of mum.
“But I do not regret the decision because I wouldn’t be here if not for her.”
