Help Vahide and Fitim go to their family reunion!

We have a patient (Vahide Rudi) here at dove house who has been supported by our Emotional Support Service for some years. She came here because her son (Fitim) had a rare and life threatening condition that required a liver transplant, his brother courageously donating part of his liver- also a life-threatening situation. He was diagnosed at age 4 and she has coped with the roller coaster ride of serious illness for the past 13 years. He had the transplant approximately 2 years ago. For the first 12 months following the transplant they were in and out of hospital every few weeks as they struggled with the impact of it all.

The family came to NZ as refugees from the war in Kosovo and Vahide and her husband have experienced a number of traumatic experiences from the war. Fitim was diagnosed soon after their arrival in NZ. In the past couple of years both of Vahide’s parents have died in Kosovo and her elder son (the donor) has returned and married there. During August, other family members are gathering there for a reunion. Vahide believes that if she and her son had an opportunity to connect with their family again, visit her parents’ grave and spend time in her homeland, it would benefit her mental/emotional and psychological health. As refugees their only source of income is the benefit they receive from WINZ so this dream is totally out of their reach financially. Since Fitim’s health has become more stable and he is less dependent, this courageous lady has been volunteering in our hospice shops and bakes for the staff regularly to show her appreciation of the assistance she and her family have received here. Her wish is to continue to contribute to our community in this way and through her volunteering experience she may be able to get employment in the future and build a ‘new life’.

It would be amazing if we could help this family!