10
Wednesday November 8 2017
SELWYN TIMES
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Local News Now
The Maddie story
Fire rage s, homes
at risk
Gravely ill Maddie aims to fulfil her dreams •From page 9 Now, she is solely reliant on the white dialysis machine that sits next to her bed. “There has been some really scary moments where we think, ‘wow, is she going to come out of it this time? Are we nearing the end?’ We’re pretty open about dying and death and Maddie’s fully aware of those implications, and that is a reality for us,” Mrs Manson-Collins said. Maddie said she did not like to think about death. But sometimes she had to. When she first had her antibodies tested, there was a two per cent chance of matching anyone in New Zealand. “We realised we wanted more for Maddie, we wanted life. Just to sit here and wait for a kidney is not okay for a child, dialysis isn’t great for a child, it isn’t great for an adult.” They started looking for alternative and visited The John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, United States, which has been looking at new kinds of transplants. But it will cost $750,000. They have raised just under $300,000. Maddie’s siblings Tomas, 21, and Georgia, 19, do not match, but they could take part in a “paired exchange” where they
‘We’re pretty open about dying and death and Maddie’s fully aware of those implications, and that is a reality for us’ – Sarah Manson-Collins
HEALTHY: Maddie as a child before she was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome.
donate a kidney and Maddie can get an American one. Mrs Manson-Collins said they were “blown away” with the support they had received. “As much as it’s about fundraising for Maddie, it’s also about raising awareness of a lack of organ donation here in New Zealand and what we can do to improve that system.” Maddie’s condition has taken a toll on the family. Mrs Manson-Collins gave up her job as a logistics manager for a national and international race
car team four months after Maddie’s diagnosis. Mr Collins was a race car engineer for Toyota Racing Series and Formula 5000, but has stopped working. “It’s got to the point now we’re just both so exhausted because it’s been going so long. It takes two of us to keep on top of everything,” Mrs Manson-Collins said. “Financially, it’s taken a huge toll. Before Maddie was diagnosed, we were both working, we had a retirement fund and retire-
ment plans. That’s all gone now.” She said Georgia, who works at footwear retailer Hannahs while she decides what to study, and Tomas, an electrician apprentice, had been “amazing” and were very protective of their sister. The family doesn’t have expectations because it is too disappointing if it doesn’t happen. The family suffered a disappointing blow earlier this year when they were offered a bogus $1.5 million pledge to help get Maddie to the US. Maddie hasn’t been to school
in months. She’s been too sick. But she is about to go back for four days a week, with a mix of Southern Health School and St Margaret’s teaching for the “social interaction”. She wants to become a vet and has already been helping out at her local clinic. “We went to the vet to get my cat fixed and as soon as I walked in I thought ‘I really want to work here, it’s so cool.’ One day I asked if I could come and work for a day, I watched surgeries and got a dog’s teeth cleaned, did vaccinations, and I loved it so much, so from then on it started.” She is used to being around animals, they have three labradors, a poodle, cats and her pony Trig, who she recently won the North Loburn Equestrian spring dressage tournament on. Although riding may come with some risks, her parents decided they would not wrap her in “cotton wool”. Maddie wants to help others by raising awareness for her disease and organ donation. “There are people out there who are unfortunate to have this disease and it’s good to help.” •To donate or find out more, visit maddiecollins. co.nz
FREE BBQ LUNCH! CUP DAY
Brekkie, Bubbly, Bus $40
Join us at The Rock on Melbourne/NZ CUP DAY! Courtesy van available. TAB & 2 pods. Free Easybets RACING action on the big screens and a great crowd! Book a table for NZ CUP DAY by 10th Nov and enjoy a FREE BBQ Lunch! DJ PULSE from 7pm. T&Cs apply.
CHRISTMAS FUNCTIONS
Delicious Set Menus available. Book before 10th November and enjoy our FREE BUBBLY offer!
CALL QUARTZ/THE ROCK 82 Rolleston Drive Phone 347 4190