Purple Heart

by Ta'afuli Andrew Fiu

Andrew Fiu came to Ponsonby, Auckland as a three-year-old, part of the wave of immigration from Samoa that turned Auckland's inner city suburbs into a vibrant cultural melting pot. At 14 he was misdiagnosed as having flu when in fact he had rheumatic fever, a disease endemic in Pacific Island communities. As a result of the damage to his heart he was rushed to hospital. Since that time Andrew has had five open heart surgeries, a record anywhere. He has spent so much time in hospital that he says he grew up there, experiencing tender and expert care from doctors and nurses but also enduring appalling racism. This memoir is the story of his hospital years, his clashes with his parents' traditional attitudes, the wisdom he learnt from his fellow patients and the medical miracles perfomed on his heart by famous surgeon Alan Kerr.It's the story of growing up a Pacific Islander in Auckland, a reflection on the bad old days when schools made Pacific Island children anglicise their names and hospitals did not have translators, an insight into the inter-generational tensions in Pacific Island migrant families and also a testimony to deep friendship, boundless love and bucketloads of humour. Written in a warm, personable and humorous style, this book is part of the cultural sea change happening right first Niu SIla, then Bro'Town, No2 and Sione's Wedding and now the first memoir from a 40-something Samoan, written with grace, love and insight.

Genres: Autobiography, Nonfiction, Sports, Memoir

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Studying this with my Year 13s. They absolutely loved it. Andrew actually came in to school to read a few extracts and talk to the kids. A wonderful role model for them of someone who never gave up despite so many obstacles and challenges.

[Dan Organ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny touching and inspirational memoir of a Samoan growing up in New Zealand and enduring 5 open-heart surgeries.

Being someone of European and Samoan descent I was able to connect with the cross-cultural confusion, the racism, and the stress of spending so much time in hospital, which I also endured throughout my life having had a serious burn. I really felt this story.

Well worth a read!

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review published in the New Zealand Herald, 5 August 2006
"Love helps mend a broken heart"

by Philippa Jamieson

If you need confirmation that the heart is the wellspring of love and courage, this book is it. Purple Heart is the engaging, warm and funny story of a Samoan boy growing up in South Auckland – and in hospital.
At 14, Ta'afuli Andrew Fiu suffered from rheumatic fever that was initially misdiagnosed as a bad cold. His heart was damaged and he needed surgery to replace valves. He has had open heart surgery a record total of five times, and is only 40 years old. All up, he has spent nearly three and a half years of his life in hospital.
This memoir focuses on Fiu's health and his hospital stays, on his own and his family's reactions to his illness, and on his relationships with others in hospital, particularly fellow patients. Some of the patients became dear friends, others are difficult and racist but still Fiu is determined to have at least a civil acquaintance with them.
Life-threatening illness brings out the best in some people, the worst in others. The author is definitely in the former category, and emerges as a curious, sometimes cheeky boy, who takes recurring illness in his stride. He doesn't brush off the serious side of things by any means; death hovers like a solemn but respected friend.
But Fiu's unflagging cheerfulness and optimism (along with the expertise of the cardiac surgeons) are surely major ingredients in his recipe for staying alive.
His family is also a constant source of love and support. The author paints clear pictures of his extended family gathering around the hospital bed, and bringing him treats such as fried chicken. Also vivid are his near-death experiences, in which he encounters his dead grandmother.
The book is written in an easy-to-read style, and bounces along with plenty of action, dialogue and funny anecdotes. The author invites us to see the world through his Samoan eyes, with a perspective that is honest and egalitarian.
There is a chronologically confusing sequence of memories towards the end of the book, and occasionally the text is disjointed where chunks of the author's life are missed out or glossed over, but the focus after all is meant to be on the author's health. At the back of the book are the medical reports on each of Fiu's operations, which will be of interest to others who have heart problems.
Take this book to someone in hospital; it could be just what the doctor ordered.

[Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Fiu came to Ponsonby, Auckland as a three-year-old, part of the wave of immigration from Samoa that turned Auckland's inner city suburbs into a vibrant cultural melting pot. At 14 he was misdiagnosed as having flu when in fact he had rheumatic fever, a disease endemic in Pacific Island communities. As a result of the damage to his heart he was rushed to hospital. Since that time Andrew has had five open heart surgeries, a record anywhere. He has spent so much time in hospital that he says he grew up there, experiencing tender and expert care from doctors and nurses but also enduring appalling racism. This memoir is the story of his hospital years, his clashes with his parents' traditional attitudes, the wisdom he learnt from his fellow patients and the medical miracles perfomed on his heart by famous surgeon Alan Kerr. It's also the story of growing up Samoan in Auckland in the 1970s and 1980s, a reminder of the bad old days when schools made Pacific Island children anglicise their names and hospitals did not have translators, an insight into the inter-generational tensions in Pacific Island migrant families, and a testimony to love and deep friendship, written with grace, insight and bucketloads of humour.

[Anna Akeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to read this book after my cousin recommend it. This book fits into the bingo board under the category "A book written by a male".
This book is based on a true story and the author is the main character. My favourite part of the story is that the main character was fine at that end and it was amazing finding out that his heart ws opened 5 times. It was a miracle for a person to survive from that. What i dislike about this book is that some parts made me feel like he's a stupid little boy. But at the end he made me feel sorry for him. I would recommend this book to anyone. This is the only book i read that the author is a Samoan. I enjoy really this book and its one of my top favourite books.

[Len Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book entertaining, informative and at times hilarious.

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it wasn't exactly what I had in my mind when I started reading it but it was a really interesting book nonetheless. I gave it 2,5 stars because neither the author nor the publishing house though about making it more accessible to non-New Zealender readers.

I'm not a big fan of illness-books, they're really not my cup of tea. When I bought this on, though, I was more interested in the growing-up-as-Samoan-in-NZ part. This mixing of culture is one of my favorite topic. I haven't read many book set in NZ and this was another favorable point for reading this novel.

The beginning was difficult. The author's style looked more journal writing rather than book writing and there were tons of Samoan and probably Māori words I couldn't understand. And consulting Wiki on a Kindle isn't that easy. I would suggest to add a sort of glossary at the end to help readers unfamiliar with the NZ culture.

The first part was worst when it came to the style but more interesting when it came to the content. All the hospital visits were less boring when Taa was younger rather then when he was an adult. With later operations, I felt like I was re-reading again the same stuff.

Religion plays a big role in this book and I'm not sure I was entirely comfortable with it. And the nuns chancing the little immigrants' names into English... Didin't they know that Annunziata is already a name that carries a heavy religious meaning. Quoting from Wiki:

«Annunziata is the Italian word for (feminine) Annunciation. It is generally understood to refer to the Virgin Mary, receiving the word of the Angel Gabriel that she is to bear the Christ child; that is, the Virgin Mary after the Annunciation. It is a common theme for iconic reverence in Roman Catholicism (see Immaculate Conception. In Catholic families where all the children are girls it is sometimes given to a new child in the hope that the next born will be a boy.

I'm happy that I've read it but I won't read anytime soon.

[zespri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Andrew Fiu was diagnosed with rheumatic fever at the age of 14, and was subsequently left with significant heart damage. This book is a record of his ongoing five heart surgeries, and his lengthy hospital stays, and is both very interesting and in parts very funny. The hospital ward became his classroom in a sense, as his fellow patients passed on their wisdom and life experiences.

Andrew's parents headed to New Zealand to secure a better life for their children, coming from Samoa, and as immigrants, not understanding our language and culture led to some hilarious scenarios for Andrew. As a 14 year old Samoan boy, he was trying to explain complex medical procedures to his parents!

It is a heart warming book, Andrew is obviously a fighter, and now heads a media design company, and is passionate about raising the level of achievement for pacific and maori children in New Zealand.

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and mostly entertaining read. I picked this for a reading challenge to do with Heart month, and it was a good pick - while I didnt love this book, it was never boring! Ta'afuli's story about his life dealing with the after-effects of rheumatic fever, and growing up in Auckland as a Samoan immigrant was at times touching and inspiring, and I wish him and his family well.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Randomly chosen to be book #64 of 2012.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think the writing was more like an extract from the aauathor's diary. I think he needed to hone the writing to make a great story.