[Makes chicken noises] [Narrator] The people of Samoa
know Luisa Saupo... ...as the tiny
lady with the little crutch. [Continues making chicken
sounds] Born with the rare genetic
disorder, brittle bones... ...she's just one meter tall. I love feeding the chickens, but I don't like killing the chickens. [Narrator] Many people born with
brittle bones don't survive. As a child, Luisa
couldn't walk... ...because she couldn't support
her weight. She repeatedly fractured her bones. When I was young even if I banged my hands just like that - bones break. [Narrator] Surgeons inserted
steel rods into both legs. Today, she's one of the few people
with brittle bones... ...who can walk. When her entire family moved
from Samoa to New Zealand... ...they left Luisa behind
with her grandmother. They were told she wouldn't
get permanent residency... ...because of her disability. Before when Louisa born, small like this, I put her on the pillow, because she can't sleep in my lap She never do anything. Only eat and sleep! [Narrator] In a nation of strongly-built
men and women.. ...Luisa stands out
all the more. It's a common thing in
Samoa when people look at you and judge you because
you have a disability. I don't like to go to town because people point hands at you and say, 'Oh look, here comes the
short person', or whatever. Some people believe that having a disability or being born with a disability is a curse. I ignore them you know... but it hurts. Samoan kids, they're sacred of me. I don't know why. [Narrator] As an adult, Luisa
has strived to be independent. She's found some work
but she's never married. So she's needed family
to support her. Now, at 32, she's just found out
she's pregnant. When I found out I was
pregnant I was surprised. I mean, I never thought
that I can have a child. Cheeky go and make a baby! Naughty girl eh? It's not good, I can't take care... I'm too old and because my legs... I can't lift because babies grow up. Too heavy for me. Most people think it's shocking. A few people say things about you, you know. Say how can she have this child, How can she have this baby? What kind of man would do such things To a person with a disability? Those kind of things they did it to me? And you know what I said to them? Well I'm sorry if you have
a life, I also got a life! [Narrator] Luisa's excited
and scared. Doctors fear her body won't cope
with pregnancy. There's concern that the baby
or Luisa could die. And with no husband
to support her... ...how could she hope
to raise a child? Three months into the pregnancy the
Samoan government... ...appeals to
New Zealand to give Luisa... ...a specialist medical visa. And treatment not available
in the islands. The government agreed to pay for my treatment my medical treatment in New Zealand. [Narrator] But there's an expectation
from her government. If tests prove the baby
also has brittle bones... ...the pregnancy is to be
terminated. The agreement can never be broken. If it turns out to be...
you know, have a disability then I have to terminate it. But if not I get to keep him. [Narrator] Luisa's baby son,
Lance, is born by Cesarean...
...eight weeks premature. Doctors are astounded
she carried the baby that long. Days later, Luisa's striding
around the hospital. She's made of strong stuff. It's a miracle because I thought he's not going to be normal but look, he's a fast growing boy. I feel happy you know. Finally now, I never imagined that I would ever have a child. My family, they're worried about who is going to help me look after the baby. It's easy for me to look
after him at this size, but as he grows up it's going
to be very hard for me. My mum wants to leave the baby here and I go back home, but I can't, I can't be separated. It wasn't planned. It was just... came out of nowhere! [Narrator] In her first days out
of hospital... ...Luisa stays
with her sister in Auckland. It's a large, blended family
and they welcome... ...a cousin from Samoa. Everyone's here in New Zealand, it's jus tme and my
grandmother back home now. there's no support for me
and my baby back home... that's the reason why my mum, my family is trying to keep me here. [Narrator] Luisa's mother has come up from
Wellington to help... ...while the family
talk through Luisa's future. It's me and my mum who have to take turns, I wake up at night time
until the 3 o'clock feed. The showering is for my mum's work, I'm not ready yet to hold him at that time I'm afraid he might slip
off my hands and drown. [Narrator] As mother and baby bond there's
a cloud... ...hanging over their futures. Luisa's medical visa is limited. Once she recovers from her Cesarean
she must leave New Zealand. She's the only one of my kids in Samoa. That's why I'm worried, to make her stay here and the baby. [Narrator] Luisa's decided to apply for
New Zealand residency... ...so her mother
can help raise her baby. Smile, don't cry! [Narrator] A month has passed. Luisa's mother has returned
to Wellington... ...to her own young children... ...and has taken baby Lance
with her. Luisa's had to stay in Auckland
for medical appointments. I can't sleep, I can't eat.
I cry at night time. I look at his photo and I kiss my photo, my phone and I say good night to him. Then I sleep, I wake up,
and look at the photos. That gives me the courage to go on by looking at his photos. But at night time when I wake up my eyes have been crying all night. It's just so hard. [Narrator] At last Luisa
is reunited with her baby. Luisa's mother is working
round the clock. She arrives home from her cleaning job at
daybreak... ...to take over the morning feed. I don't want to get too attached
to my son at this stage, because I don't know whether I'm going or staying because I'd rather keep a
little distance from him to help me cope, you know, if I leave him. I can't leave him, definitely can't leave him If I'm working with him every day Maybe I will take care of the baby. [Interviewer] And what will Luisa do
do you think? –Look for a job eh? In New Zealand? – Yeah, she tried
to apply for a visa to stay, she is good here with the baby, Samoa is no good for her. In a bid to strengthen her
application Luisa meets with the local
Member of Parliament Trevor Mallard. The normal practice with a
limited visa is that it's
very hard to get them extended. In this case, it can't be
the extension of a visa... ...it'll have to be a new,
to start with, visitor's visa... ...and then possibly, hopefully,
something going forward. Um, but they are issued
on quite strict conditions... ...and you have to be very careful
not to overstay them. Because if you do overstay
it means, and you are deported... ...well, I can't imagine them deporting
someone... ...with such a young baby... ...but if someone was deported
then they can't come back... ...for five years. So it's really
important that we get it right. - Yeah.
- All right, ok. [Trevor] So, we'll let the officials
deal with that... ...let them know
that I'm going to support you. No guarantees! You know,
there's no... I'm a backbench MP... ...no promises! I promise to work for you. - Ok?
- Ok. [Narrator] Luisa's bid to stay in New
Zealand... ...has been rejected.
Even though Lance was born in New Zealand... ...he too must leave the country. There's no government funding
in Samoa... ...to provide extra help
for Luisa and her baby. - All right?
- Phew! [Narrator] And no government support
means Luisa's mom must go as well. Leaving her own children
and husband behind. I'm not 100%, you know, happy but no other option [Traditional Folk Singing] Oh he is so heavy! Oh he is so heavy!
[Narrator] Baby Lance is only 3 months old... ...but already he's almost
half Luisa's height. I can't really hold him much longer See how he moves kicking everything Hey stop kicking! [Narrator] It's clear Luisa
can't manage her baby alone. I can't carry him, you know,
as much as I want to but it's just… I can't [Narrator] Luisa's mom can't stay
in Samoa forever. One option is that she adopts
her grandson... ...separating Luisa from her baby. It's the hardest decision
to make at the moment. I have to make my mum happy for everything she's done for me. Move your hand don't worry, I can do it. You don't have to be like that
What's that supposed to mean? You're getting mad at me The more I am with him, the more it's going to be
very hard to let him go. Put him down so I can do his armpit You're heavy! Heavy little fatso. [Narrator] Luisa's mom is convinced she needs
to take Lance... ...back to New Zealand. But she's now worried how Luisa will
cope... ...with the loss of her baby. I put him here to make him go to sleep because I can't hold him. People laugh at you that you have a mother with a disability, but if you've brought up your son, knowing what kind of person you really are, you never know, he might fight back for you. You know I have nothing to give him, but all I can give him is my love, you know, that's the most important part for a kid, spending time with the mother. [They speak Samoan] She misses my little brother, leaving him alone at home, she needs to go back I'm so sad, that's why I am sitting
here for over a month. I want to take the baby. I mean I know that she understands me I know it's pretty hard for me, but I'd let her adopt my son rather than anyone else. It's only the fact that I'm going to miss him and don't get to grow up with him, but I know he's in good hands. Hey baby? [Narrator] Luisa's mother has already been
here... ...for five weeks. The whole family
is under pressure to reach a decision... ...about Lance's future. I sometimes dream if I let him go he might not know, you know, I'm his mother or he might grow taller than me and might not believe that he is my son, that I am his mother, that's the funny thing. But growing up with him gives him more confidence that I am his mother. [Narrator] Samoan protocol dictates
the family chief... ...will decide what happens. The decision is not for you only the decision is for you and your baby, because now there are the two of you. So what do you have in mind? Still deciding as long as you know the family is
behind the decision you're making. You know, whether good or indifferent it is a decision. And the family is prepared to do whatever is necessary as long as it is in the interests of the baby and youself as well. Because we need to face the reality
that you are a bit challenged in
the physical department. It's important that the baby's help is in the center of whatever we decide to do. So what is the worst if your baby just stays with you? The worst thing if he stays? I won't be able to give him everything, like caring
for him, supporting him you know I can't hold him
and carry him around, he might get sick, I can't take
him to the doctor. What is the worst thing that can happen if your mum takes the baby overseas to New Zealand to look after? He might not consider me as a mother. Do you think that New Zealand is the best place for your baby? Yeah It's a hard decision, it's a very hard decision for you. Yeah it's very hard if I keep him here. And whatever decision you make it's always a good decision some decisions have unfavourable outcomes but at the end of the day they
are unfavourable outcomes and we learn from it and move forward. It's just that I want to be with him And that is fair enough We're just talking about stuff just in the hope that it lightens the load. [Narrator] For the second time in her
life... ...Luisa's facing a gut-wrenching
separation from her family. Her five brothers and sisters
all live in New Zealand now. I really want a win-win thing. But for my family I have to do it. I have no other choice. [Narrator] Twelve months ago Luisa dared
to imagine... ...life as a mother. But now her disability
and bureaucracy... ...stand in the way of her dream. Hi! Morning! Good morning! [Narrator] Luisa brings Lance in
to show him off... ...to her old
workmates at the NOLA Trust. The trust advocates for the rights of
people with disabilities... ...in Samoa. She'll make a fine mother.
And she deserves to have her baby. Eh baby, you have a good mother. [Narrator] Unable to find much paid
employment Luisa's done voluntary
work here for the last ten years. Finding a job here is really hard because I have a disability. They still have that thinking that we can't do anything. It's called dicrimination. [Narrator] If Luisa has to give up Lance,
she'll come back... ...to NOLA to help out. # Drum music # [Narrator] As she walks through the
lawyer's door... ...Luisa's preparing
to hand over her baby for adoption. Second door here on the right! Right here! Please, grab a seat. You find yourself in an
unenviable position. That means that I don't have,
you know time to see him grow up eh and we won't have the attachment thing. That's the hard thing. Well, the other option that your
son stays with you and maybe your
family can assist with hiring someone like a baby sitter
to halp you at home here if you don't want to give up your child, if you want him to grow up with you than that might be another option The problem is that my Mum's
too attached to him, If she leaves my baby, she gets sick. And plus I don't have if I work, my pay will never cover the baby stuff and baby sitter. Because I've been stressed a lot, and if I adopt my son, I know it hurts, but in my mind it's only for the best of my son, you know I can take care of him but I need help and a good environment for him. We will just go ahead
with the adoption thing. It takes a lot of courage to to do what you are doing and I
suppose it's for your son's benefit. I just want a family of my own. I have to go by the rules and respect my family. That's waht we were brought up to. I don't know what I will do, not having my son to play with. Hey? Are you going to leave Mummy? No? Luisa's mother has returned to New Zealand
to raise money for the adoption
