We are beyond grateful for the amazing support you offered during this season’s appeal.
Thanks to your generous donations, our team can continue their incredible work with whānau on the frontline. They can keep forging trusting relationships with new parents, helping where and when they’re needed most. So little lives like Lottie’s can be saved.
Since late June, your support has resulted in more than $57k raised, with more donations still coming in! At this rate, we hope to be near our winter appeal goal by the end of August.
These lifesaving funds go directly to where they are needed most. They help our nurses keep visiting families in their homes and communities, and they keep our services that provide wraparound care to the whole whānau, like play groups and parent groups, going strong.
As just one example of the increased pressure during the cooler months, we see an uptick of in PlunketLine calls each winter. This year, PlunketLine has:
- Received an increase of approximately 500-600 sick calls compared to winter 2023.
- Has seen an increase in reported symptoms like cough, cold and breathing difficulties, and an increase of childhood viruses such as RSV and influenza symptoms.
- So far this season, PlunketLine has also completed 134 transfers to the ambulance service.
Families need us, and your support means we can be there for them.
We are thankful for Sian and Matt’s bravery in telling their story. Seeing your child struggling to breathe is every parent’s worst nightmare, and talking about it again was incredibly tough. But sharing their journey with Lottie’s bilateral vocal cord palsy, and Nurse Amy’s significant role in getting the medical support she needed, was extremely important. It clearly resonated with you, our amazing donors. And it shows just how impactful the relationship between whānau and Plunket is for future generations to thrive.
Matt’s role with the New Zealand Navy sees the family currently living in Sydney for the next few months. “The girls are doing well,” says Sian. “We have had a set bet back with Lottie, but that is to be expected with winter bugs. She struggles with sleep and breathing at the moment, but we are getting there. Thankfully she doesn't need oxygen just yet.”
Overall, both Amelia and Lottie are enjoying their Australian adventure. “Amelia is loving life here and making a lot of friends,” continues Sian. “And her anxiety has decreased a lot. She is very excited to get back to NZ though and misses the country living - being free to run and climb trees!”
Thank you for helping us be there for every whānau like Sian, Matt and their girls this winter, so little lives thrive.