Gisborne mother Ariel Kururangi is taking on the Kilometres for Kids challenge in March to raise funds for the Starship Foundation after life-saving surgery on her now 4-month-old daughter Meadow. Photo / Supplied
Gisborne mother Ariel Kururangi is taking on the Kilometres for Kids challenge in March to raise funds for the Starship Foundation after life-saving surgery on her now 4-month-old daughter Meadow. Photo / Supplied
A Gisborne mother is to pound the pavement next month in a grateful bid to raise money for “the superheroes” who saved her baby’s life.
Ariel Kururangi has joined the Starship Foundation’s Kilometres for Kids virtual challenge to support the Auckland children’s hospital life-saving services.
The 25-year-old, her partner andtheir now “thriving” 4-month-old daughter Meadow have firsthand experience of Starship Children’s Hospital.
Meadow was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition after Kururangi’s 20-week ultrasound.
“The sonographer here picked up that something wasn’t quite right and after the scan she said to me: ‘I’m just going to have to send these off to the doctor, they’ll be in touch with you’,” Kururangi said.
She initially thought nothing of it and went back to work.
“That afternoon the anxiety progressed through the day and I called my midwife and she said: ‘Yes, I’ve heard from them, they’re suspecting something’.
“I said: ‘Well, what is it?’ And she said: ‘I’ll tell you but don’t Google it’. Which I didn’t listen to. So she told me what it was ... a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot.
“It’s a CHD, a congenital heart defect, so it’s something that they’re born with,” Kururangi said.
After the diagnosis, she travelled every four weeks to the Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) unit in Wellington.
“We had to continue going to MFM every four weeks from 20 weeks ... we went down five times all up. And then a referral was put in for us to have baby in Auckland, so we had to relocate to Ronald McDonald House [accommodation facility] at 37 weeks and pretty much wait for her arrival because it was too risky to give birth in Gisborne.
“You’re not sure what condition they’re going to come out ... and we don’t have the resources here to handle that.
“It was safer for everyone if we were in Auckland, so we relocated on the first of September and she was born two and a half weeks later.”
When Meadow was born, she was taken to Starship’s neonatal intensive care unit. Her health deteriorated and she had open-heart surgery at just 7 days old.
“This was the hardest thing we’ve ever done, handing our baby over to the doctors and praying that we would get to see her again,” Ariel said.
After six hours, they got a phone call to say the surgery had been successful and Meadow was to be transferred to Starship’s paediatric intensive care unit.
“We raced up to Starship Level 2 and watched her get wheeled in by her surgical team. Words can’t describe the emotions that flowed.”
After three nights in the unit, Meadow was shifted to the children’s heart ward for three weeks.
Meadow, now 4 months old, was diagnosed with the congenital heart condition Tetralogy of Fallot while still in her mother's womb. She underwent open heart surgery at just 7 days old and will have another operation at 6 months old. Photo / Supplied
“The doctors and nurses that care for your child truly became superheroes in our eyes,” Ariel said.
“We’ve had many ups and downs, and this has by far been the biggest obstacle we’ve faced. We are so grateful for the care our daughter received and the interventions that saved her life.
“She is thriving now and we would not be where we are today if it weren’t for Starship Children’s Hospital.”
That inspired Kururangi to take part in Kilometres for Kids, which involves participants walking, running or cycling to raise money for the Starship Foundation.
“I would like to give back in whatever way possible, so that other vulnerable tamariki can receive lifesaving care. If you’re a daily walker or are looking for a challenge this March, I recommend you sign up for Kilometres for Kids and help raise money for Starship.
“My target is 50km, which I think is quite achievable over 31 days,” said Ariel, who was born and raised in Auckland, but whose family is from the East Coast.
“I’m looking forward to it; me and Meadow will be out in the pram, for sure.”
Meanwhile, Meadow has continued to get stronger.
“We’ve just come home to pretty much grow her and get her stronger for her next surgery, which will be at around six months - another open heart surgery.”
Those interested in taking part in Kilometres for Kids can join at www.kilometresforkids.org.nz
