LEANNE Cavu’s faith and self-belief define her success.
She had overcome an early speech impediment due to heart issues, to a rheumatic heart, she learned there was no cure available.
But for Leanne, there was more to life, University in the bucket list, places to be and things to do.
“I had developed aphasia, a condition that affects speech and with rheumatic heart, life was a struggle,”she said.
It was in her final school year (2019), at Suva Grammar, while Leanne’s classmates were preparing to graduate, she found hospital to be home.
She was diagnosed with invasive heart valve syndrome, in-synced, and it affected her speech.
“All this and more had me admitted to Moit Hospital in Suva.
“I missed out on my high school graduation.”
India treatment
Leanne’s condition had worsened as bacteria had infected her vital organs, including the heart, lungs and brain.
And it called for immediate medical treatment, she travelled to India and was admitted to the Miot Hospital in Chennai.
“A doctor, nurse and my mum had to accompany me to India. The injection and oxygen had to be given during the trip.”
Leanne underwent a 9- hour procedure, and after she spent a good 2-weeks in the hospital to return home.
Rehabilitation-speech therapy
Leanne’s sister and confidant Talei Cavu, was an in-house nurse and a teacher.
She worked on articulation and pronunciation, stuttering and fluency disorder, hoarseness, vocals, comprehension and expression issues.
“I owe it to my sister. She was not an expert in the field but wasn’t she one, who made sure I got my normalcy back?
“It was a process, excruciating, God is always good.
“It was after a few months that I got my vocals and words to interpret back.”
University enrolment
Leanne had always wanted to become a lawyer, a childhood dream, instead decided to take up Law and Sociology at the University of the South Pacific.
She enrolled in 2020, going against her family’s advice to take a year’s break to recuperate.
“I had been through a lot already, what else could go wrong,” she quipped.
“It all comes down to the will of God, and here I was.”
With the support of her family and friends, Leanne made good on a promise to her mum and sister that she would graduate with a degree when all her calamities were behind her.
“University was some challenge, it always is, focused I was and riding on the back of countless blessings, I hold family support to dear heart without them I wouldn’t be where I’m at.
“You can rise above any situation if you have faith, family and who you are.”
Graduation
Leanne graduated last week after working throughout her foundation and undergraduate studies pursuing a double major in Law and Sociology.
She labels it ‘triumph over turbulence’ times.
“It wasn’t easy at all, have had to endure constant anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts for different reasons where frustration and fear made it hard to breathe, but I still showed up.”
Leanne said it was all learning from scratch, adding every word re-learnt was a victory through the mention of Jesus because every tongue shall confess that He is Lord.
She said she doesn’t know what the future holds, but with God everything is possible.
“Looking to work in private or public spaces, cheer me on, life’s to live.”
