Ailing Magpie in fight of life

KATE NEWTON
As if he didn't have enough of a battle on his hands, former star Magpies rugby player Jarrod Cunningham is now having to fight for funding so he can afford to have a carer look after him as motor-neurone disease ravages his body.
Bay Home Support, which is run by the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, stopped its funding of Jarrod's care in January because he didn't have the tools a caregiver would need to get him out in an emergency - a wheelchair, hoist and ramps.
Within a month, Jarrod and good friend and body therapist Mark Foote had obtained what they needed but funding didn't resume because they refused to use the hoist to get Jarrod to the toilet.
Mark and another friend take turns going to Jarrod's Havelock North home and helping him get out of the wheelchair and stand, something they are happy to continue doing because it allows their mate to get on his feet and retain some movement.
"We don't want funding for someone to take him to the toilet just for someone to prepare his meals, feed him and make his bed, all that household stuff," Mark said.
"But, basically, there is no funding if he stands up." The hoist has its purpose, Mark said, but should be for emergencies only because Jarrod isn't ready to use it full-time.
Jarrod's time spent climbing 15 stairs has gone down from 56 seconds to 40 seconds in a week.
"That's how determined he is to keep things chugging along and repairing his body," Mark said.
"To tell a guy that has been to the top in his sport that he can't stand up, I can't imagine how his body would react to that," Mark said.
Since January, the Jarrod Cunningham Charitable Trust, whose money is raised through fundraising, has had to pay for an independent caregiver to feed him and do household chores. The cost is about $1000 a week.
"The trust can't keep funding this when Government is obliged to. They have to come to the party," Mark said. Jarrod is lucky, in some ways, that his high profile having played for the Magpies, Hurricanes and Blues means fundraising will pay for the care, but the worry is that there are others who could be standing but are being forced to sit.
"How many other people out there are in the same situation and are being moved around with a hoist but would like to stand against a wall," Mark asked.
Hawke's Bay District Health Board media and communications adviser Karalyn van Deursen said negotiations reached an impasse due to differing views held by Jarrod, his carers and the Home Care agency (contracted by Bay Home Support) on occupational health and safety requirements for the home-care workers.
The agency's ability to provide safe care for Jarrod in his home was not possible without adaptive equipment, such as a hoist, she said.
"Mr Cunningham has consistently turned down options to use adaptive equipment in his home, resulting in care practices for the carer workers which are considered unsafe by the Home Care agency."
She said Bay Home Support would continue to work alongside Jarrod to find an agreeable solution, committed to supporting his aspirations as much as possible.
* Jarrod is also looking for a caring person who would be paid from the trust to take him for a walk in his wheelchair twice a day. Contact Mark Foote at Peak Fitness and Health on 877 9781 or 027 655 6816.