Dr Lance O'Sullivan: It was when my daughter got sick that I realised how important immunisation is
Dr Lance O'Sullivan writes from the heart, and from the head: "It was 1996 and we were young parents. I was at medical school when I came upon an anti-immunisation pamphlet left in one of our lecture theatres.
"I was suspicious of the establishment at the time. You need to understand, I had grown up a welfare-dependent "half-caste" (I hate that term) boy living with his mother, escaping from a life of alcohol, crime and a level of violence that I would not tolerate for my daughters. An under-achiever, I was expelled from two secondary schools. I feel I had a reason to be angry at "the system".
"Then I became a father. It changed my life. I needed to be a responsible adult caring for a son, then a daughter – eventually seven children. We were young parents and wanted to do only the best for these precious beings.
"I read the pamphlet. It described "studies" in the Netherlands into communities that didn't look like mine, but I took little persuasion. I stated our second child, our little daughter Te Miringa, would not be immunised.
"At the time my wife Tracy was working as a nurse at the local medical centre and immunising children daily. Yet this was my protest against the establishment that I so mistrusted.
"Fifteen months later, we had a scare. Te Miringa became unwell with high fever and a body rash and the doctors were concerned as there was a measles outbreak locally. And I realised the information from the Netherlands did not reflect my reality.
"We got Te Miringa immunised."
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What's your favourite recipe for gooseberry?
Love gooseberries? Share your favourite way to enjoy them. We're looking for our readers' favourite family recipes for this delicious crop. Send yours to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the magazine, you will receive a free copy of our December 2024 issue.
One week to go 🌸🌸🌸Garden and Art Festival - Volunteer!
Got a few spare hours next week?
Grab a friend and come down and volunteer at this year's Garden and Art Festival. There are sites across Tauranga Moana, including at the festival hub on The Strand.
Roles include:
🌸Ushering: Welcome festival pass holders at events downtown and across Tauranga.
🌸Parking Assistance: Help manage car parks and shuttle service stops for a smooth visitor experience.
🌸Staff Support: Aid festival staff with various tasks to keep everything running seamlessly.
For your amazing efforts you'll get a festival t-shirt that you can wear when you go and explore what's on with your complimentary festival pass. 🙌🙌🙌
For more details follow the link:
www.volunteeringservices.org.nz...
or email office@gardenandartfestival.co.nz to sign up.
💚Get involved in this iconic local celebration of community and creativity and help make this year's event a blooming success 💚
On the range
Venetian plaster finishes are on-trend at the moment, so why not recreate this look at home and cover that unsightly rangehood at the same time?
Find out how to create your own with Resene Sandtex and these easy step by step instructions.