Joanne summed up the family’s experience with the NZ New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society …
“We never felt alone. The Society was only a phone call away and someone was always going to be in contact.”
“Had Craig not been a member we wouldn’t have had any of that support. It was invaluable having a human being to talk to.”
“Sometimes we’d be on the phone with them for ages, with Amanda or whoever, just someone to talk with who wasn’t hospital staff. It was so nice to have someone to chat with who was just normal.”
“Even though Amanda’s contact was mostly phone calls, she became a welcome, familiar voice that we knew. Amanda knew the journey we had been on and having the New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society Representative from Auckland popping in regularly to see us as well, it was just really lovely that they were all there for us and many times as well.”
“Across our trips to five separate hospitals, we had no real support from any other organisations apart from NZFFWS.”
“I do struggle to think what we would have done without them, without someone to talk to. It meant so much.”
“The Welfare Society also knew we had been trying to have a holiday as a family and they gifted us 10 days at the Whangamata house. We were able to take the kids away for Christmas for 10 days. It was so relaxing. Just perfect! It rained half the time we were there but the house was so big we were able to have such a great time. Four kids and us. Great memories.”
“It was lovely having that constant wraparound support. They knew when we were low, and they would ring back and make sure we were okay.” WE WILL ALWAYS BE FOREVER GRATEFUL!
“A couple of months before we went to Auckland for the transplant, our second boy went into Kenepuru Hospital for eye surgery and he ended up needing glasses. The Society helped us with a the Corrective Lenses Benefit for the glasses as well.”
“There’s just so much support from the moment you do have a family, from the birth of a child, to going away for lovely family holidays – the homes are so perfect for families, in perfect areas too where you can rest and relax or be right in the middle of a really good town.”
“I’m just blown away by what they’ve done for us. The level of support has been amazing. They’ve really been there for us.”
“Also we need to acknowledge Errol Tapiki, Keith Nixon and Phillip Barrow (Phil). They were fantastic, especially when we were in Wellington. Errol and Phil would pop around to the house at times, as well, just to check in to see how things were going, and also when Phil was Station Rep at one stage, he popped around too.”
“We still get asked occasionally, ‘How are the girls?’ from everyone who was there for us from the New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society. We want them to know, they’re doing great. Hannah and Emily are attending their last year of college and Emily is going to be studying nursing next year, with Hannah going to University prior to wanting to become an emergency dispatcher.”
“Oh and we also received a gift basket when Craig had his neck surgery along with visits to home with him being off work for an extended period. There have been so many moments. They The New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society always made sure that Emily had a TV in her hospital room too and when any of the other kids had treatment, they’ve all been looked after with a TV in their hospital room to keep them entertained, along with the thoughtfulness of the games and goodies.”
“We absolutely recommend if you are not a member of the New Zealand Firefighters Welfare Society, get on board. You won’t be sorry!”
