Shaun's Heart Transplant Journey
Donation protected
We could tell you all the funny stories about Shaun ... like the number of times he has lost his keys in a shopping centre or purchased a car while waiting for his friend to finish a part time work shift in his younger years.
We could tell you the many stories of empowerment about Shaun ... like how he's inspired many in the fields of education and teaching through his post graduate study, teaching practice and successful blog.
We're here however to tell you a very different story about Shaun.
Our story is about a dear friend called Shaun. He's an amazing man who has inspired many through the positive attitude he has continued to show while battling many health set backs over the past 5 years.
In 2012 he suffered a major heart attack at the young age of 41. For the next 4 years he lived a long and tough life struggling on between 9 to 20% heart functioning, all while raising his two teenage children and being an inspirational teacher to many.
On 3rd August 2016, Shaun received a life changing phone call. He had been on the heart transplant list for a few months and his time for a new heart was up. Living in Mackay with his family, this meant a rushed flight to Price Charles hospital in Brisbane alongside his young children and their mother. It was meant to be the next step to living a health filled life once more. Within 24 hours, he had received his new heart and was recovering in ICU.
Although at first, it appeared to be successful, since this major hurdle, there have been set backs, after set backs. Still in ICU after 74 days, Shaun has had a number of heart arrests, 6 operations, two leg amputations, 1 gall bladder removal. He's on dialysis, not to mention needing a pace maker amongst many other medical interventions.
This has all happened while his young family have been living in Mackay, 950 kms away.
Shaun needs to see his family frequently. They are the reason he keeps fighting to live and get better. Each time, they make the journey from Mackay to Brisbane to see him, it costs them between $900 to $1200 in flights depending on availability. With Shaun in hospital and then needing rehabilitation in Brisbane for what will be many more months, it's crucial money is no barrier for him to see his two children.
As dear friends of Shaun, we're raising money for this family to reunite frequently throughout the next months of Shaun's recovery.
We'd be so so thankful for any funds you could contribute to make this wish come true for Shaun, his two teenage children and their extended family. It's going to be a long tough road ahead. We wish for Shaun to concentrate on getting better and rehabilitating, rather than how and when he can see his loved ones again.
Your money will be used to help fund flights for his two teenage children to see him on a regular basis. It will mean the world to us and more importantly Shaun if together we can make this possible. If at this stage, he can't see the world, let's fly his world to him ... often.
We could tell you the many stories of empowerment about Shaun ... like how he's inspired many in the fields of education and teaching through his post graduate study, teaching practice and successful blog.
We're here however to tell you a very different story about Shaun.
Our story is about a dear friend called Shaun. He's an amazing man who has inspired many through the positive attitude he has continued to show while battling many health set backs over the past 5 years.
In 2012 he suffered a major heart attack at the young age of 41. For the next 4 years he lived a long and tough life struggling on between 9 to 20% heart functioning, all while raising his two teenage children and being an inspirational teacher to many.
On 3rd August 2016, Shaun received a life changing phone call. He had been on the heart transplant list for a few months and his time for a new heart was up. Living in Mackay with his family, this meant a rushed flight to Price Charles hospital in Brisbane alongside his young children and their mother. It was meant to be the next step to living a health filled life once more. Within 24 hours, he had received his new heart and was recovering in ICU.
Although at first, it appeared to be successful, since this major hurdle, there have been set backs, after set backs. Still in ICU after 74 days, Shaun has had a number of heart arrests, 6 operations, two leg amputations, 1 gall bladder removal. He's on dialysis, not to mention needing a pace maker amongst many other medical interventions.
This has all happened while his young family have been living in Mackay, 950 kms away.
Shaun needs to see his family frequently. They are the reason he keeps fighting to live and get better. Each time, they make the journey from Mackay to Brisbane to see him, it costs them between $900 to $1200 in flights depending on availability. With Shaun in hospital and then needing rehabilitation in Brisbane for what will be many more months, it's crucial money is no barrier for him to see his two children.
As dear friends of Shaun, we're raising money for this family to reunite frequently throughout the next months of Shaun's recovery.
We'd be so so thankful for any funds you could contribute to make this wish come true for Shaun, his two teenage children and their extended family. It's going to be a long tough road ahead. We wish for Shaun to concentrate on getting better and rehabilitating, rather than how and when he can see his loved ones again.
Your money will be used to help fund flights for his two teenage children to see him on a regular basis. It will mean the world to us and more importantly Shaun if together we can make this possible. If at this stage, he can't see the world, let's fly his world to him ... often.
Organizer
Carolyn Bofinger
Organizer
Feilding, NZ