Posted on Friday, September 23, 2022
Based on international statistics, an estimated 1 in 20 tamariki will experience a bereavement by the time they’re 16 years old. The impacts of grief are both immediate and life-long. Without the right support at the right time, tamariki can experience a range of mental and even physical...
Read MorePosted on Tuesday, September 13, 2022
When your taitamaiti / child is seriously ill, it feels like life is put on hold. Your entire focus, naturally, becomes your taitamaiti / child as you support them. But for most of us, life can’t really stop. We have whānau to care for, jobs to continue and relationships to maintain....
Read MorePosted on Monday, August 22, 2022
Hi everyone, I hope you have all had a good winter and the blues have stayed away. Sometimes no news is good news as they say, and I have no news to report on the new heart front, only that I am still here (thankfully). I have had a few new firsts, including meeting with the...
Read MorePosted on Wednesday, August 17, 2022
It’s a conversation no one ever wants to have: telling your taitamaiti / child you’ve got mate pukupuku / cancer. It’s natural to feel upset, unsettled, scared, anxious, guilty and more when it comes to mate pukupuku / cancer. Not only do you have to adjust to your new...
Read MorePosted on Monday, August 1, 2022
As mātua (parents and caregivers), it’s natural to want to protect tamariki from some of life’s toughest times. These include funerals and tangi. But in the same way it’s good to be honest and open about things, including telling your tamariki you have mate pukupuku...
Read MorePosted on Monday, July 4, 2022
Hi Everyone, You might remember back in February I shared that I'm currently on the heart transplant list. The good news is, I am still here and waiting (phew). The not so good news is, there have been fewer donors so far this year, so I think it could...
Read MorePosted on Tuesday, June 21, 2022
It’s a sad reality that bullying happens – and it even happens if your taitamaiti / child or young person is affected by mate pukupuku / cancer, serious illness or grief in the whānau. Not only is your taitamaiti / child or young person dealing with the trauma of that, they’re...
Read MorePosted on Monday, May 30, 2022
There’s no one way to grieve, and everyone experiences grief differently. That’s because we’re all unique. Our unique culture, age, previous experiences of loss, belief systems and more can all affect the way we grieve. Grief is a normal and natural reaction to...
Read MorePosted on Saturday, April 30, 2022
If you, or someone close to you and your tamariki / taitamaiti (child), have mate pukupuku (cancer), or other serious illness, that has come back, spread or is terminal, you might be wondering how to talk to your tamariki / taitamaiti about it. It’s a sad reality for a lot of...
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