A young mother suffering a crippling disease knows she has limited time but is happy she is leaving an environmental legacy for her sons and other schoolkids.
Loren Hope, mum to two boys (aged five and four) and a much-loved teacher at Ngunguru School in Northland, has motor neurone disease (MND) a terminal illness which, she says, "slowly but surely robs you of everything that makes you, you."
Yet this is also a story of resilience and courage. One of her students, 12-year-old Anja Brown was so moved by her happy and positive outlook in the face of her predicament she nominated her for an ASB Good As Gold award. Hope was named as this week's recipient with the ASB to give her $10,000 towards modifications to her bathroom which have become necessary as her MND progresses.
The disease, which causes degeneration of the muscles and has no cure, is progressing so rapidly she is being forced to stop teaching, a decision that has devastated her students, fellow teachers and many in the community.
Hope has been teaching at Ngunguru located on the Tutukaka coast near Whangarei since 2010. In that time she has developed a unique environmental programme called Earth Ed - thought to be a first in New Zealand schools - and in the process has endeared herself to staff and students alike.
Hope says her respect for the environment came as a child growing up "under Mt Taranaki, with a beautiful river running right beside our house, big gardens and orchard and a whanau who valued the natural world and taking care of it."
She says the Earth Ed programme - which aims to embed the role as protectors of the environment (kaitiakitanga) into the everyday life of students - is more than just educating about the environment.
"To be earthed also means to feel grounded and connected to one's people and place," she says. "My aim was to guide children in developing a deep connection to and empathy for our local ecosystem as you can't ask them to care for the environment if they feel detached from it."
Ngunguru School's location is ideally placed. It sits at the mouth of an estuary and Hope's programme has helped students learn about tidal zones and ways of protecting water quality along with lessons about the bush, wildlife, animal and plant pests.
Karen Johnson, a colleague at the school, says despite her illness Hope is a very giving and caring person who has touched a lot of hearts while Anja Brown describes her teacher as an inspirational person
"She manages to be so positive and happy, and always gets us kids so enthusiastic about the environment; we all love her so much."
Hope says she first realised something was not right when overnight she lost the strength in her left hand in January 2016: "They first thought I had had a stroke, it wasn't until November that I received the MND diagnosis.
"I don't think anyone forgets the moment they are given a terminal diagnosis," she says. "Shock takes away your words and time stands still; I couldn't comprehend that the worst case scenario had become my reality."
Hope says she is giving up work as it is impossible "for me to get into the bush and slosh through the river with the kids.
"I can no longer be alone as my balance deteriorates when I fall and I can't get off the ground," she says. "I struggle to garden anymore, to cook, dress, eat, drink and speak. But by far the hardest thing is not being able to play with and look after my sons (five-year-old Costa and four-year-old Niko).
"Mama can't race or ride bikes, play soccer or climb trees with them. I can't put on their shoes or do up their buttons, I feel like I have let them down, that they have been robbed of their mum."
Hope says while the future for everyone with MND and their families is bleak, being given a diagnosis like this is also a gift.
"I have been gifted the time to say the things I want to the people I love and to be joyful and grateful every day for the small things that make life beautiful.
"I have limited time and I'm not going to waste it, it's precious. I have a wonderful life, a beautiful partner (Gines Pastor, her husband, is from Valencia in Spain) and sons and live in a stunning place surrounded by amazing people.
"Of course there are many hard days, but I have a lot to be grateful for. The students have kept me buoyant on many a tough day; smiles, laughter and hugs go a long way."
Principal Rick Sayer says although Hope is resigning at the end of the year, he intends keeping her on in a mentoring role when a new ecology teacher is employed in her place.
"It is rare in education to find an ecology teacher like Loren," he says. "She walks the talk, lives the passion and galvanises people around here – it just comes from who she is and the energy she has."
ASB's GM of corporate communications, Christian May, says the staff and kids adore Hope.
"She is not only a committed environmentalist but someone who is extraordinarily positive in the face of adversity," he says. "It's clear that Loren is such a key part of her local community and the way in which her students, colleagues, friends and family have come together to support her since her diagnosis is a truly inspirational story."
# Karen Johnson is organising the Spring Fling for Hope to raise further funds for the bathroom modifications. To be held on September 15 at the Ngunguru Sports and Recreation Complex, it will feature live music, dancing, entertainment, food, spot prizes and auctions.