Rachel Burt of Havelock North talks about her 17 month old daughter Elliott
and ongoing costs of suffering from the Havelock North Gastro bug.
Thousands of dollars later the horror of the gastro crisis keeps on giving for one Havelock North family.
During the outbreak mother Rachel Burt spent 10 days ill with four days off work, while her 17-month-old daughter Elliott had a trip in the ambulance, two hospital visits and three GPvisits.
"In total Elliott was sick for 16 days and she still hasn't recovered. The illness turned her lactose intolerant and completely wrecked her immune system."
Now five months on Miss Burt and her partner Dom Brown have to fork out up to $180 a week for lactose free formula, which is suggested Elliott takes until she is 2.
The formula is vital to the 17-month-old as it gives her the much needed nutrients she misses out on from consuming dairy products.
Miss Burt has since left her job so she can take full care of their daughter while Mr Brown works for the police up in Wairoa.
"We have lodged an ACC claim so are waiting on that but the stress of everything is overwhelming. With Elliott's immune system down she picks up every bug at daycare so I have to be there to look after her."
Looking back from when the family were first hit with the bug Miss Burt estimated at least $3000 has been spent.
From travelling costs for Mr Brown and sick days off work money was lost in all directions.
"Bottled water alone was a dent for us. We went through the 10 litre bottles from the supermarket every two days and they were about six dollars each."
"Then you have to think about all of the nappies and wipes that we went through. I also didn't get paid on my sick days as I was new to the job so all of the little things add up."
Miss Burt said her main concern now was what the long term effect of the gastro would be for her little girl.
"She never got sick before this and she was such a cruisy little kid. I am just worried about what it will mean in the future. She is happy again but still not the same."
Miss Burt and Mr Brown are now waiting for the ACC claim to be processed and hope to be able to claim some of the money that has already been lost.
