Melbourne Storm forward Tui Kamikamica is determined to make his NRL return after a terrifying stroke in March led to emergency brain surgery and a subsequent heart procedure. The 31-year-old Fiji international is also aiming to lead his country at this year's Rugby League World Cup.
Kamikamica was rushed to hospital after waking up unable to move or speak. He underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain. Speaking to AAP, he recalled the moment he realised something was seriously wrong. "Everything was normal and then I woke up around 3.30am to go to the toilet, and my right arm was fully numb and just slowly I can't talk and stuff, so that's when I know it's something serious," he said.
His wife Asi quickly called an ambulance. "When the paramedics came, I can't even move my head, I can't move my leg, my arm and stuff, so I went straight to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the surgery was straight away."
Kamikamica's first thought upon waking was about his playing future. "As soon as I woke up, the first thing I ask the doctor, 'Am I going to play again?' and he was like, 'Don't worry, you'll play again', and that's all I needed to know."
After a stint in rehabilitation, Kamikamica underwent further surgery to fix a hole in his heart, known as a Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), which had allowed the blood clot to travel to his brain. The father of one explained that this surgery removed the risk of another stroke. "Everyone has a little hole in their heart, but once you grow older, it's supposed to be closed, but then one in four people still have that hole in their heart, I'm just one of those one in four people," he said.
"It was closed last week ... if I didn't have the heart surgery then I can have another stroke in the near future so that's pretty scary. It's been a tough couple of weeks, but I'm glad it's all done now."
Kamikamica reports feeling "pretty much back to normal" and is gradually increasing his training load. The Storm are taking a cautious approach to his return. "I've been doing just light weights, light running and stuff, and then I can slowly push a bit more," he said.
He has had a constant companion in the club's rehab group with his best mate Eli Katoa, who is also recovering from brain surgery due to successive concussions. Kamikamica's long-term goal is to lead Fiji at this year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in October and November. However, his immediate priority is returning to the Storm, who are on a worrying six-game losing streak.
The Storm have missed his imposing 110kg, 195cm presence in the forward pack. "That's one of the things I've really, really missed, just being out there and playing with the boys," said Kamikamica, who has converted his family's farm in Somosomo into a commercial kava business.
"It's been a tough couple of weeks for us but I reckon once we click, it's going to turn so we just have to believe in ourselves that we can make it right again. Pretty much my goal at the end of the year is to represent my country, Fiji, in the Rugby League World Cup, but for me right now it's more so getting back into my rehab, doing it the right way. I don't need to rush back because this is one of those serious injuries. But in saying that, I'll do everything I can to be able to be out there with the boys, trying to help them throughout the year."
