In February Suzi Merson's was life changed forever when a serious car crash left her barely alive.
The Havelock North woman suffered a dozen broken bones, internal injuries and a severe trauma that required one leg to be amputated below the knee.
Now her friends in Havelock North, where she had her framing business, are pulling out all the stops to help her in the next chapter of her life journey.
"Framed for Suzi" is a fundraising project that includes an art auction of 40 works with all proceeds going to Suzi.
Many of the artists that Suzi has worked with over the years, from all around New Zealand, have donated a piece of work. Artists include World of Wearable Arts 2014 supreme winner Kate MacKenzie and Bridget Morrison. Local artists such as Richard Brimer and Rae West have also contributed.
The artworks will be sold via an online auction and under the hammer at a fundraiser dinner at the Havelock North Function Centre on September 20. The auction dinner is a sell-out with more than 220 tickets snapped up.
Led by Havelock North business people John 'Mac' Macpherson and Aimee Stewart, Framed for Suzi is aiming to raise $50 000. In addition to the art auction, many Havelock North businesses are running individual in-store raffles, with all proceeds going to Suzi as well.
John Macpherson said the decision to help Suzi was an easy one.
"She has been our business neighbour for years and when one of the team falls you do what you can to pick them up. This is one of those times"
Aimee Stewart was full of praise for the Havelock North community spirit.
"Everyone has pitched in to make this art auction happen. Wine and venue hire, art photography, printing the art catalogue and even building the auction website has all been done for free by local businesses wanting to do their bit.
"Hours of time have also been given to get this off the ground so it just shows how much Suzi means to the community"
In the midst of her recovery, Suzi had to sell her beloved "Edges" framing business.
She now has her prosthetic leg and is busy practicing on it; looking forward to the time when the shiny new wheelchair ramps up to the doors of her home can be taken away for good.
"I did think that I would be able to put the leg on and be walking straight away, but it is not as simple as that", she says.
Husband Rick says he is just very glad Suzi is still around. The accident was incredibly traumatic for him and the couple's three adult children, not least because he was away on a fishing trip off Mahia and had to be brought back in a police car relay.
He was picked up from the shore by Mahia police and then met half way by a Hastings car.
Rick says "They were brilliant. I was fully aware that the situation was very bad but they just kept talking to me about anything and everything to try and keep my mind off it - I can't thank them enough. We so very nearly lost her; and I will never forget how hard everyone worked to save her. There were many times when we were super-scared"
One of the family's lucky breaks was that the Hastings fire crew were heading out to a practice, close to the accident scene and were there within minutes. With the amount of blood she was losing from her severed leg, the family believe that speed made all the difference and saved her life.
Suzi doesn't remember much from the accident but she knows the emergency services and medical staff are the reason she is here to tell her tale. As soon as she was able, Suzi and her family invited them all to their home to thank them properly and show them she was on the road to recovery.
Suzi is determined to get on with life. "This is just a bit of a detour in our lives - we are close to getting back on the main road again"
A GiveaLittle page has also been set up for Suzi and those wanting to donate can do so at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/framedforsuzi
To bid in the online auction go to www.gangoffour.co.nz or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GangofFourHB