Family revisits help at scary time

Horowhenua girl Angelina Schellkes spent the first two months of her life in an incubator, she could cuddle her mum only once a day and was fed through a tube.

But, four years on she has defied the odds and her future is looking bright, says mum Tanja Schellkes, who is helping raise money for a Horowhenua room at the new Ronald McDonald House in Wellington.

Mrs Schellkes was shocked when her waters broke at 25 weeks – the pregnancy had been easy.

She was driven to Palmerston North Hospital where she was was pumped with steroids to speed up the development of her baby's lungs before being flown to Wellington Hospital.

"I didn't want to go, I was just crying. But I kept thinking I have to stay calm for the baby."

Doctors feared little Angelina would arrive within the next 48 hours but she stayed put.

Mrs Schellkes spent the next four weeks in hospital fearing the worst.

Her husband, Mike, and toddler, Joshua frequently made the journey from their home at Koputaroa, near Levin, to Wellington.

Then complications arose at 29 weeks and Angelina was delivered by caesarean section on April 1, 2005. She only weighed 1kg.

Mrs Schellkes got a glimpse of her daughter before she was whisked away.

"I remember that she had hair and was crying and I thought, `yes, she's crying and moving'."

The following day Mrs Schellkes got to touch her new daughter for the first time.

"She was in the incubator and she looked like a little bird with huge eyes."

After a few days Mrs Schellkes moved to the Ronald McDonald House across the road from the hospital, where there was enough room for her husband and son to stay.

"They make you feel welcome and really care about each and every person who is staying."

At the house the family had their own room and became close with fellow parents of premature babies.

Volunteers would cook meals to make sure families with sick children ate well.

"You do forget to eat, you do forget to do all those sorts of things."

Mr Schellkes said staying at the house for three weeks took away a lot of stress.

Angelina grew stronger and was doing really well before complications arose, but because they were so close they could be at her side instantly, he said.

"We thought we were through the worst and getting ready to take her home."

A brain scan revealed parts of Angelina's brain had died from a lack of oxygen, Mrs Schellkes said.

"She had a 65 per cent chance of having a severe disability on her right hand side, basically cerebral palsy."

She also contracted the deadly GRSA hospital superbug in the neo-natal unit. "But she defied the odds and she seems to have no major disabilities."

After another four weeks at Palmerston North Hospital's neo-natal unit, Angelina was finally taken home.

Like many children who were premature babies, Angelina suffers from lung infections but other than that she is a bright, bubbly, healthy girl.

Fundraiser gala to pay for room

Having a sick child in hospital is a harrowing and stressful time. 

But families who have to take their loved ones to Wellington Hospital can find solace in the Ronald McDonald House.

The haven, which is across the road from the hospital, provides free accommodation for families for as long as they need it.

Fundraising is in full swing to build a new house with a room solely for Horowhenua families, chief executive Lesley Slieker said.

The $14 million, five storey house with 34 rooms will replace the small 18-year-old house.

"We can accommodate only 12 families here and we are always full and it's really, really hard telling families, `sorry we don't have the room for you'.

"One of the reasons we're building a new house is that people who live less than 100km away from the hospital don't qualify for any subsidies from the Government. We think it's pretty mean and we really want families from Horowhenua to stay."

Such families have to either pay for a hotel, travel to the city every day, or hope for a room at the house, Mrs Slieker said.

"We had a Horowhenua family last week waiting for five days to get into the house and we've got two Horowhenua families staying at the moment."

The district had raised more than $50,000 since February. About $2 million needs to be raised before construction can start.

The Horowhenua Gala Dinner is being held on Saturday night at council chambers in Levin to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House.

* Tickets are $125 which includes a three-course meal, entertainment by Off Broadway and a silent and grand auction throughout the night. Tickets from AMP Prime Financial Solutions, Queen Street, Levin, or phone Letitia on 0274339377.