The following are real stories from patients that the team has connected with
All patients have given consent for the publication of videos
Mr AnthonIe (Trejo)
Antione was hospitalised in Thailand after a devastating motorcycle accident in rural region while travelling. He was in critical condition in Bangkok Hospital. He was in a coma on ventilator, needed his left leg amputated and had collapsed lung.
Trejo, is a professional fighter who has fought on many shows around Australia and abroad, was planning to be in Thailand for around three months to train with his long time Muay Thai community.
The CRSANZ team connected with family of Trejo after being informed by Alby Xavier from the Young Bulls Gym in Melbourne. The team organised medical repatriation of Trejo’s care back to his home in Melbourne Australia.
Since then, has made a remarkable recovery and is very grateful for the opportunity for his care to be repatriated back to his home.
Mr Prasad
The team met Mr Prasad in our visit in 2023. He had a low rectal cancer. Prior to our visit, he was given the option to have his cancer surgery outsourced to India at the cost of $6000USD. Upon arriving in India however, Mr Prasad says the initial cost was changed to $25,000USD and he instead decided to return back to Fiji.
Shortly following this the team at CRSANZ connected with Mr Prasad and we performed his cancer operation free of charge at CWM Hospital. He had an excellent result from his operation and has returned back to work.
The team have seen Mr Prasad on each volunteer visit since 2023 and in 2025 we plan to reverse his temporary stoma.
Dr Leli
Dr Leli is an Anaesthetist and Head of Department of Anaesthesiology at CWM Hospital. Shortly after our visit in 2024, the team at CRSANZ was informed of his diagnosis of a locally advanced low rectal cancer.
Internationally, this cancer is treated with chemo-radiotherapy prior to surgery (neo-adjuvant) followed by surgery and in certain circumstances, post operative chemotherapy (adjuvant). In Fiji, however, there is no local facilities for radiotherapy and very limited access to chemotherapy.
With the help of Barwon health team Prof Glenn Guest, A/Prof Sonal Nagra and Austin Health team Asiri Arachchi, Mr Andrew Bui; Dr Leli was able to have his full cancer treatment in Australia under compassionate grounds. He has recovered remarkably well from his treatment and returned back to working at CWM Hospital to help more patients in Fiji.
The team would like to thank all Barwon Health and Austin Health staff who made this possible for Dr Leli.
Mr Warrick
Mr Warrick is a patient in Fiji who had his cancer surgery locally in January 2025 requiring a stoma. He sheds light on the scarcity of supplies of stoma bags for patients in Fiji especially those in rural communities. Of note, may patients in Fiji who lack supply of stoma bags are using margarine tubs or plastic bags to manage their stoma.
Mr Warrick was successfully able to receive a supply of stoma bags from the Fiji Cancer Society that were donated by the team at CRSANZ and Ostomy charity organisation in NZ.
The team plan to continue a regular supply of stoma bags and supplies to Fiji and are working towards improving access for patients in more rural areas.