LITTLE ANGEL CALLED HOME

​One of SVSG’s little angels, Baby Penina Utuva of Samata-i-uta Savaii, has finally been called home.  She had just turned 5 years old last Friday, on 19 October.
 
For 5 years, Penina had defied the odds against her ability to live, since that day in 2013 when the doctors notified her parents that Penina suffered from congenital hydrocephalus (an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain), and has very little chances of reaching 12 months old.

Today, SVSG joins Penina’s parents Utuva and Moega Timo, in celebrating the life of a fighter and a very brave angel.  Despite her illness, there is always an excitement in the office every time Penina visited, as her smile was a reminder of God’s gift of life.  Baby Penina was the youngest of 11 children.  The parents rely on their plantation for a living.  As such, they needed help, and in 2014, the parents sought SVSG’s welfare assistance for Baby Penina which continues until her passing.
 
Her birthdays were usually celebrated at the SVSG main office in Apia where Penina’s SVSG family gathered to praise God for his gift of life to our dear child.  One year turned to two, three, four and now after her 5th birthday, she has been called home.
 
Penina is the last angel with congenital hydrocephalus out of the many others who were under SVSG’s welfare support, and have since passed on.
 
With the support from the Little Angels Foundation of New Zealand since 2016, SVSG has been supporting the daily caring of Baby Penina.  A donation of $1,000 was received from the Foundation to help Penina’s parents with her funeral arrangements. 
 
With the late Director of the Little Angels Foundation, Taa Lo Tam’s recent passing, the Foundation continues to honor his legacy towards the angels in Samoa.  Faafetai lava Sepoima Lo Tam and the Board of the Little Angels Foundation of New Zealand for continuing to support the vulnerable children of Samoa.
 
We thanked Utuva and Moega for sharing the gift of Baby Penina with us.  She has surely been our little angel, and one of a kind.  Rest in love Baby Penina.
 
“To all those who have been part of Baby Penina’s life from day one until her passing, thank you for being there for her always.  May our Heavenly Father bless each and every one of you for the love that you have shown towards the most vulnerable.”  Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President