LOS ANGELES – They knew celebrating was important. They knew, more than anything, there was still life left for Sonasi Po’uha to enjoy.
In the final three months before Po’uha died of colon cancer in July 2009, almost 30 members of his family lived with him in his four-bedroom duplex on the east side of Salt Lake City.
“We all moved in,” grandson Stevie Tu’ikolovatu said, “and had a party every day.”
Doctors did not offer a good diagnosis. After a stint in the hospital, Po’uha was put on hospice care and returned home.
Tu’ikolovatu was graduating from nearby East High that spring.