Life lessons with Sam
By Gemma O'Sullivan
When I first met Rangiwahitu (Sam) Kahui, it was amongst the rubble and repair of Christchurch following the first earthquake in September. The details of that day are clear in my memory, not just because of the cracks in the streets and houses, but because of a conversation I had with Sam, who is 73, as we shivered next to each other while waiting for a film crew to finish their assignment.
Later that night, flying back to Auckland, Sam was on my mind. It had been an action-packed day with the media, telling the story of how the earthquake had impacted some of our deafblind members. There was a lot I had learnt and been moved by. But Sam's positive outlook on life stood out to me, and I hoped to hear more about the life and philosophy of this wise man. In this article, Sam shares his story.
Brought up in Auckland by his father and grandmother during the Second World War, Sam didn't meet his mother until much later in life. His childhood was deeply troubled, characterised by domestic violence, neglect, poverty, and a lack of education. For many years Sam had no frame of reference other than his own reality.
As a consequence of growing up in this environment, Sam turned to alcohol and headed down a very negative path.
Photograph: Rangiwahitu (Sam) Kahui.
At almost 40, Sam reached a tipping point. He had become the person he never wanted to be. At around the same time he also came into contact with the RNZFB, following an accident on a construction site that left him blind in his left eye. Years of construction had also seriously impacted his hearing. Soon after, Sam was to lose the sight in his right eye through Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Determined to change, Sam sought help for his alcoholism and began to seriously reflect on his life. At this time, Sam also began working again in paid employment as part of the RNZFB's rehabilitation programme.
With continued support, Sam made leaps in turning his life around. He signed up to high school in his forties, then to polytechnic, and finally to university to study Lores and Philosophy. At the age of 66, Sam graduated with a university diploma.
Through the RNZFB, Sam became involved with Ngati Kapo and the deafblind community in Christchurch, his new home. Not content simply turning his life around Sam set out to help others in any and every way possible. From enlisting his friends to drive members on errands to spending hours counselling those he encountered who were experiencing difficulties.
Sam also began spending time with people in prison, whose lives often bore resemblance to his own early years.
In 2008, after years of involvement with the deafblind support group in Christchurch, he became its Chairman and has worked tirelessly since. Sam says it has been challenging at times but: "It's never a waste of time when you're trying to bring people together".
Given Sam's age, and the difficulties associated with sight and hearing loss, you can't help but wonder how he does it all. "You just have to get on and do what's in front of you," Sam says. "Take it one day at a time, and try to help others whenever you can."
Along the way Sam has had a number of mentors through the RNZFB, whose brave attitudes in the face of their own sight-loss have inspired him.
"Life is a gift," Sam told me, in his tone that doesn't invite argument. "Push the doors to your heart wide open, face the truth, and try to help others."
Today, with the help of his white cane and specialist sunglasses, Sam is able to get on with everyday life. He has also made a start on learning braille. I called Sam shortly after the 6.3 earthquake struck on 22 February, and was very relieved to find him safe and well.
Sam is a man who has seen both sides of life. His lessons have been learnt in the classroom of experience and through his story we can all learn something too: life is a gift, whether you seize it or not is up to you.