Did you know that there are over 250 Heart Kids members in Taranaki?
Yes that is a true fact and did you also know that this Organisation is the only one in Aotearoa New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong care and support for children, teens, adults and families impacted by childhood heart conditions? These vital services are provided at no cost to ensure that all those impacted will feel supported, informed, educated and connected. The practical and emotional support is vital in helping individuals and families cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a childhood heart condition.
There are over 40 different types of childhood heart conditions. Nationwide each week 12 children are being diagnosed with a childhood heart condition and over 500 major heart surgeries are carried out on heart kids every year – that is almost 10 per week. Generally these will be for congenital heart disease and are the most common serious birth abnormality in Aotearoa New Zealand.
There are also Acquired Childhood Heart Disease, and this is an issue with a child’s heart that develops after birth. They can be caused by bacterial or viral infections or be the result of chronic diseases or medications that affect other parts of the body.
All these conditions are ones that Heart Kids offer support to and here in Taranaki we are very lucky to have the Wonderful Narelle who is the Family Support Taituarā. She is available to support families through their journey from diagnosis for life. Once a heart kid, always a heart kid. Heart families can be faced with separation, isolation, stress, financial hardship and loneliness during their journey, The future is uncertain, and these families need support, whether it is at home or visits to the local hospitals and / or Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, all these unknown possibilities can be stressful and to know that they are not alone in their journey can be really helpful.
If the little one does require surgery, they receive a Maia Bear which they treasure, however, if they are not requiring surgery Volunteering New Plymouth now have knitters and crocheters who are producing tiny teddies to be gifted to these little ones, and are always grateful to all of these volunteer for the hours they put in to help a little one feel supported and cared about. We also have volunteers who are knitting beanies, booties, cardies and singlets. Volunteers are also required to support Narelle with events and fundraising.
If you would like to hear Narelle talk about the support, she and others around the country offer Heart Kids you can find the recorded session of Volly Voices on Spotify and Apple Podcast - to find these go the either Access Radio Taranaki website where these recordings can be found under Community or to Volunteering New Plymouth website and look under Volunteers and Volly Calls.
Who can you contact?
If you are curious to learn more about what is involved and / or how you can get involved then contact Wendy at (Monday to Thursday) at Volunteering New Plymouth on 06 758 8986, Ph/Text: 022 571 4228 or Email: admin@vnp.nz. to take the next step.
Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.2% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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15.7% Hmm, maybe?
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11% Yes!
Council Meeting for older adults & people with disabilities
The mayor and a slim majority of the newly elected NPDC councillors are keen to see the, “Age and Accessibility Working Party”, a long-standing Council committee, scrapped.
This is not to save the minimal cost of having such a committee. But simply put; it means these councillors believe that older adults and all those with disabilities in our community do not warrant being recognised, respected or treated as people whose voice is important, to them.
On Thursday 18 December (that is, this coming Thursday) at 10am, in the Council Debating Chamber, the full council will have an opportunity to vote, “to Re-establish an Age and accessibility Working Party”.
But we need your help to get it passed. We need you at the meeting to show your support for this committee. This committee is important for the voice of the older person or people who have accessibility or challenges in our community, to be heard.
We have many in examples of what happens when council fails to listen to people with disabilities, resulting in remedial work costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Let’s support those councillors who do support the reinstatement of this committee.
Please consider joining the myriad of organisations supporting older adults and those with disabilities.
If you cannot come to the Council chambers, email the Mayor and inform him what you think. His email is; max.brough@npdc.govt.org.nz.
I hope that we will see you there.
There is parking for just $1 per hour at the YMCA opposite the Council in Liardet Street.
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?
(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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