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Addison's Second Ear

  • Update for 08/08/2013

      8 August 2013

    Hi folks, we've got a final update here. Summerset Villages have fundraised some $850 dollars for us. Various Rotary clubs around the Hutt Valley were able to fundraise $4500, and Robert Sinclair of Croft Funeral Home donated $6500. We're also waiting on an unspecified amount from the Stokes Valley Freemasons. So we're there! We're clear, and we should have some excess to start saving for Addison's first upgrades ($12k every 7 years or so) Please continue to donate to worthy causes on Givealittle, and thankyou all for your help and support. Rawiri

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  • Update for 24/04/2013

      24 April 2013

    Hi folks, it's time again for an update on the fundraising so far. Combining the amount raised on givealittle, what's in the bank and the Southern Cross component, we've got a total of $23,766.03, which leaves us with $12,512.47 to go. This is coming along very nicely and we couldn't have done it without you! All the best, Rawiri /edit: There was a $1000 donation posted just after this, so I've updated the figures to match. @10:17hrs

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  • Addison's switch on

      20 April 2013

    This is Addison's switch on on Thursday 18/04. You can see her reactions just after 1 minute and 6 minutes.

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  • Update for 15/04/2013

      15 April 2013

    Hi folks, we're gearing up to return to Christchurch this week to get Addison fitted and switched on, watch this space! In terms of money, we've finally got all the bills in and I can share the following: The CI costs $27,772.50. The costs for surgeon, hospital, anaesthetist and post-op xrays came to approx $8,506, so all up $36,278.50 We have fundraised $11,490.03 so far, and with the $8,506 figure hopefully being covered by our medical insurance, that leaves us with $16,282.47 to go! This is totally achievable! So, later this week, expect a video of Addison's reaction to the CI's being switched on. Thanks, and continue sharing our cause :) Rawiri

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  • Update for 23/03/2013

      23 March 2013

    Hey everybody, it's been a hectic few days and we're home safe and sound. Addison has had both implants installed, has had a horrible night coming down off the anaesthetic, and has bounced back brilliantly to her normal self. We'll be taking the bandaging off tomorrow. Finances: Obviously because of the media and pressure from the public, Hutt DHB decided to help us out. So this drops our target from 50k to approx 34k. I'm pleased to announce that our medical insurer, Southern Cross, have agreed to cover some of the costs (surgical, hospital, anaesthetic), which we expect will be all up around 8k. So, we're down to 26k. We presently have a grand total of $10327.75 saved up, so that leaves $15672.25 to go. That's certainly far better than 50k!!! Thankyou so much for your donations and words of support, keep it coming. Rawiri.

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  • Update for 20/03/2013

      20 March 2013

    Hi folks, transparency update: there's $800 in the savings account, so we have a total of $8252.75 raised at the time of writing. We're off to Addie's pre-op appointment this morning, exciting times! Rawiri.

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  • Update for 20/03/2013

      20 March 2013

    UPDATE: Hutt DHB have agreed to underwrite the cost of Addison's second implant, and we'll sort out the finer details later (e.g. pay back at our leisure, hopefully with some costs absorbed by the DHB and by our medical insurance). So at worst our target is now down to $34k, which is still a huge difference :) The surgeon is ready to go, so Addison will be getting both implants! We're absolutely thrilled.

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  • Update for 08/03/2013

      19 March 2013

    Hi everyone, if you're wondering about the unanswered question, it seems that givealittle's platform is a little funny... I've answered it twice and neither answer has shown. Basically it's an invitation to be on the 2ears2hear website, which I've accepted. Cheers! Rawiri

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  • Update for 19/03/2013

      19 March 2013

    Hi folks, what a day! We've flown to chch and are staying comfortably at Ronald McDonald House. Pre-op is tomorrow, and Addison's surgery is Friday. We are truly humbled by the response, the donations and the flood of heartfelt support that we've received today. That said, we don't think that it's just about us, despite our unique situation. We're concerned about other children in Addie's position, and we're ashamed for NZ that they're being treated as less than citizens; Denied medical best practice. So let's get our girl through this week, and let's all push for bilateral implants as standard. Rawiri.

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  • Update for 04/03/2013

      4 March 2013

    So we're back from our first trip to SCIP with a lot of questions answered and a lot more clarity. We've elected to go with the Med-El implant, and our surgery date has been penned in for the 21st of March. Addison travelled well both ways on the plane, having grommets helps! This week will feature paperwork for WINZ, IRD and the bank. Rawiri.

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  • Update for 26/02/2013

      26 February 2013

    Hi folks, we're making good progress. Addison's been practising her standing, clutching nervously to my trousers while she builds up her leg strength. She's signing Mum, and Milk, attempting to sign Dad, responding to other signs (good morning, drive/car, sleep, eat etc) and generally doing baby things like emptying the contents of bookcases and laughing about it. On Thursday we're flying down to Christchurch for our first visit to the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme (SCIP) to see Addison's specialists, surgeons etc and we'll be asking a bunch of questions. We're hoping with fingers and toes crossed that we can get everything lined up to have the second implant done at the same time as the first. After we get back from SCIP we'll begin working harder to spread our cause and fundraise. So please keep spreading the word. Rawiri.

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  • Update for 15/02/2013

      15 February 2013

    Hi there! We're off to a great start. Thankyou so much to those who've donated so far and for your kind words. Because we can/do receive donations outside of givealittle, I think it's important for the sake of transparency to keep things here updated. In other words, let's say that we get donated $100. The givealittle target should then be $49,900 to reflect that. Unfortunately it seems that givealittle doesn't have this feature. So, our target as of today is $49,985.59 The other thing I'd like to point out is that if we can fundraise somewhere in the region of $32-34k in time, it should be possible to get both CI's at the same time. So thanks again, spread the word, and support the other CI causes! Rawiri

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