As a new kiwi to the website, I know there are at least 3 others out there that live in NZ as I see your names on the map. I haven;t seen anyone in Auckland.
I was wondering about setting up a group - so that when others get that life changing diagnosis and the road leads them here - we can be there waiting to say hi.
I am waiting on Mr Christopher Furneaux to come back from holiday so I can have my surgery hopefully in March or April at the latest if I am to believe that I will be sorted within the 6mths they advised on my last letter (when I was put on the surgical waiting list behind 22 other patients with a wide range of conditions )
I am wondering if anyone else had their surgery done by him? and if so what would be your comments.
I have only heard from a couple of doctors that he is supposed to be very good.
(so I don;t even know if he would be considered a specialist in this field).
Any how I digress.... does any Kiwi's want to do this??
Hi, my daughter Olivia is 5 and got diagnosed in January.
It all started with finding she was deaf in one ear and then a multitude of symptoms followed. The doctors and specialists kept on telling me she is healthy and I begged them to give her an MRI. Even when I had the MRI done privately it still took 3 months as they wouldn’t give us the referral letter before that. So angry with the health system.
She has her first appointment with Neurosurgeon Martin McFarlane on March 11, we are in Christchurch.She’s been very unwell over the last month so we are just hoping we can get in a little earlier. The waiting has been awful.
Would be great to have a group of Kiwis, the last 4 months for us has been a scary, lonely journey. Would be good to have a support network.
I would be happy to start a Group for you. Please send me the name you would like and a picture you would like to represent your Group. We have many Members from New Zealand. I can get you the exact number. You can be the Group Facilitator. I think it is a wonderful idea !!! I even have friends on FB that would join for your Group.
I would be happy to start a Group for you. Please send me the name you would like and a picture you would like to represent your Group. We have many Members from New Zealand. I can get you the exact number. You can be the Group Facilitator. I think it is a wonderful idea !!! I even have friends on FB that would join for your Group.
Hi Katherine, thanks for reaching out to me. I really feel for you and your daughter.
I can imagine how worried you are for your wee girl. My daughter is 14 and if this was happening to her I would be beside myself running around like a headless chicken.
As an adult I find this whole process very confusing and stressful, and if it wasn't for my husband coming along to appointments with me, I would have lost the plot ages ago.
I hope that all goes well at your appointment. I know that you want March to be here and get some answers, because not knowing causes the most stress and this impact on your ability to be strong for your girl.
I did find writing down my questions helpful and don't be afraid to ask for more information if something is said in their medical jargon that you don't understand. And if you can get a support person to go along with you. They listen while our brains are struggling to take it all in.
When our support group is up and running we can start collecting names of our specialist doctors and surgeons and what area of NZ they cover - so if we need to get another opinion we have somewhere to go to.
