George Moana, 33, is making the most of the time he has left with his wife Nicole and his three children Jade, 11, Ezekiel, 4, and Willow, 1. Photo / Supplied
George Moana, 33, is making the most of the time he has left with his wife Nicole and his three children Jade, 11, Ezekiel, 4, and Willow, 1. Photo / Supplied
A 33-year-old Whanganui dad is dying of brain cancer after being told the deadly tumour "eating away at his bone" was likely a tooth abscess.
George Moana can no longer open his mouth wide enough to eat a burger. He can only see out of his right eye because hisleft one has been removed.
He won't grow old with his wife or live to see his three young children grow up.
"Telling the kids their dad was dying was the hardest thing we have ever had to do," George's wife Nicole told the Herald through tears.
The electrician had been planning to start his own business and buy a bigger home for his family when a lump started growing on the left side of his face in March.
"I was in absolute shock, I just wanted to leave the room and then anger kicked... and then I was like 'how are we meant to tell the kids their dad was dying'?"
The couple decided to tell their children, 11-year-old Jade and 4-year-old Ezekiel, separately. Their youngest Willow is only 1, too young to understand the man who cuddled her when she cried would soon go to heaven.
"We don't know how long he's got. Some people with this type of cancer have months, others have years.
"It's almost worse not knowing because we are trying to plan trips to tick off his bucket list and all seems like we need to do it now."
His bucket list includes taking his kids to Wellington Zoo, going glamping with Nicole, going sky diving and getting his motorcycle licence.
The family plan to keep Christmas simple and focus on spending what precious time George has left with family. His nine siblings, including two half siblings, and his parents will be travelling to Whanganui to join them.
