Source: Hills Shire Times

JUST like their rugby-playing father, Moana and Leilani Faasisila tackle life head-on, with one key difference – they are almost blind.

The two Quakers Hill girls suffer from the hereditary condition Leber’s congenital amaurosis. This meant that while in the womb their retinas started deteriorating due to a missing protein.

Leilani, 5, has no depth perception and can only see vibrant colours.

Moana, 7, can only see bright light and shadow.

In a desperate attempt to give their little girls the gift of sight, their parents Manase and Honi want to fly them and their two healthy sisters to China in March for a month of radical new stem cell therapy which could restore or improve their vision.

But their hope rests in the hands of the community, with rugby union club Rouse Hill Renegades calling on Times readers to help send the family to China.

The treatment would involve six injections – four with donated cord blood that contains the missing protein, and two with the girls’ own stem cells harvested from bone marrow.

Despite their condition, the girls have been raised as normally as possible and are very talented.

“Both of them love music, and Moana has taught herself how to play piano,” Ms Faasisila said.

“She picks up pop songs and movie themes and plays them by ear. It gives her a link to other children.”

She said the therapy came highly recommended from other parents they had spoken to.

“We have two things in our favour: the girls are young and they have light perception,” she said.

Through selling fundraising chocolates and kind donations from the community and Krispy Kreme Donuts, the family has managed to raise $17,000 but need another $21,000.

Manase’s rugby team, the Renegades, will hold sausage sizzles at Bunnings Norwest on Saturday (January 9) and on January 16 and 24.

There will also be a fundraising cocktail party at the Ettamogah Hotel on February 12 from 6.30pm.

There will be entertainment, auctions, raffles and giveaways. Tickets are $25.

Club president Glenn Smith is also looking for gifts of goods that could be raffled or auctioned on the night. For bookings or to donate goods call 0438 661 778.

Readers can also make donations to Flight for Sight. Account name: Honi Faasisila. BSB: 032 388. Account no: 225 164.