At 35 years old, most people are planning careers, raising families, and chasing dreams. But for Samuel Somne, life has taken a sudden and terrifying turn. Diagnosed with a brain tumour, the once soft-spoken yet hopeful graduate of Pacific Adventist University is now fighting for more than just stability, but he is fighting for his life. Samuel hails from Injua Village in Nipa, Southern Highlands Province. He is a son, a husband, and a father of two young boys aged three years and eight months with a quiet determination rooted in faith, family, and his community. “I never imagined this would happen to me.” It started in 2021 soon after his wedding, that is when he began experiencing unexplained seizures. They came in the early hours of the morning, between 2am and 3am. At first, Samuel had no idea what was happening. “I would wake up sore, with body and joint pain. My wife, Florence, would tell me I had fitted in my sleep. But I did not remember any of it,” he recalls. For months, he brushed it off, trying to live normally. But between 2022 and 2023, while working on the Olympus Project, seizures started occurring in broad daylight. “I would be at the office, then suddenly black out. The next thing I knew, I would be waking up in a hospital bed,” he says quietly. “That was when I knew something was not right. I had to get a proper check-up.” The diagnosis was devastating as a brain tumour, unpredictable, aggressive, and dangerous. “When the doctor told me, I just went numb. I felt hopeless as my life was being taken away.” In early January 2025, after reviewing his MRI scans, a neurosurgeon at Port Moresby General Hospital referred Samuel for urgent treatment overseas. The tumour had grown significantly and was putting pressure on critical areas of his brain. The seizures have become more frequent and every time they happen it was more dangerous than the last. “I am considered high-risk now and usually collapse without warning.” “Sometimes I wake up and I do not even know how I got to the hospital. It is terrifying but I still have hope.” Initially, Samuel considered seeking treatment in the Philippines. But after hearing of a fellow Papua New Guinean who successfully underwent surgery in India, he decided to go there. “India has some of the best and most affordable neurosurgeons. I believe that is where my healing will come from.” However, while the medical path is clear, the financial journey is far from over. “For months now, I have been battling not just the tumour, but the cost of getting help,” he admits. “It has been heavy. I sometimes feel like I am carrying this weight alone.” He isn’t. Samuel’s story has moved hearts across his community and beyond. In an overwhelming act of love and solidarity, his family, brothers, and tribesmen have rallied to organize a Corporate Fundraising Dinner scheduled for Saturday, July 12, 2025. The goal is simple but very urgent to raise funds needed for Samuel to travel and undergo surgery in India. “This dinner is more than just an event; it is my only hope. And with support of my people, I believe I can make it, I believe I can live.” Time however is not on his side with his travel date already set for Thursday, July 25, 2025. “That date is fixed, and we are racing against time now. If there is a setback, it could cost me my life.” Amid the uncertainty still, Samuel remains anchored by a deep well of faith. “I believe God has not forgotten me. I believe this tumour can be removed and I believe when we all come together, I will get through this.” Samuel’s story is not just about illness, it’s about courage, it is about the community and above all, it’s about the power of hope. If you would like to support Samuel Somne’s medical fundraising campaign or attend the Corporate Fundraising Dinner, please contact: Mr. Luke Mongolap: +(675) 7080 4996 Mr. Samuel Somne: +(675) 7284 4887 Email: samuelsomne686@gmail.com