Latest news with #BoneMarrowCancerTrust
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
New Christchurch Health Accommodation Will Provide For Those In Need
Minister of Health The Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's new Rānui Apartments will ensure patients and families travelling to Christchurch for cancer treatment, heart surgeries, and other complex needs will have a home-away-from-home for their recuperation, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. 'Today I was pleased to join the Prime Minister to officially open the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust's new Rānui Apartments. These 54 new apartments will accommodate more Kiwis and their families travelling to Christchurch Hospital for life-changing treatments,' Mr Brown says. The 54 apartments across two buildings will add to the existing 26 apartments available at Rānui House. The new facilities offered include one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, as well as studio rooms, to meet different patients' and families' needs. 'Travelling for life-changing treatment and surgery can be daunting. These new facilities will remove that burden by providing free accommodation and wrap-around services for eligible travelling patients and their families, located just 500 metres from the Christchurch Hospital. 'The opening of the Rānui Apartments makes the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust the largest provider of patient accommodation in the South Island. It is the only provider that serves patients and families irrespective of their age or treatment type. 'When a patient undergoes life-changing treatment, there are repercussions for the entire family. These accommodation facilities will make specialist healthcare more accessible for people in the South Island by ensuring patients and their families have support close to Christchurch Hospital. 'I would like to thank the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust for their vision, dedication, and fundraising efforts that have made this project possible,' Mr Brown says. Notes: The $18.9 million development cost of Rānui Apartments was funded through private donors, grant providers, fundraisers, and government contributions. On 1 April 2024 Health NZ increased the National Travel Assistance reimbursement rates for accommodation from $100 to $140. This was the first time the rate had been increased in nine years. NGOs such as the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust are able to use this funding to eligible patients to help provide support to patients and their families.
Otago Daily Times
08-05-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Book recounts cancer journey
Less than 24 hours after a visit to her GP, Invercargill woman Diane Townson found herself in Dunedin Hospital being scheduled for urgent chemotherapy. On June 15, 2023, the 62-year-old mother and grandmother was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) at Southland Hospital. After the shock diagnosis and trip to Dunedin for crucial treatment, Mrs Townson had the presence of mind to keep a diary of the journey she would weather for the next two years. "It was when I tried to find something to read about what was going on, what to expect — I could find nothing." She believed the lack of available information was due to fast-evolving haematology information and practices, which could quickly become outdated. So she used her experiences to write a book that would help others. "I wasn't going to write a book for a start, but I did start the diary. "I'm not the sort of person that writes a book. I think it was therapeutic when I got home. "There were lots of tears at times, and there was lots of laughter. My sons have all written their version of events at times when I was too high on morphine to know what the hell I was doing." The limited-edition book was officially launched last Friday. It was not just patients who walked the cancer journey, she said. "You'll read why I've shared my story — [it's] not just support for me, support for all my family — it's s... for them too, going through this." Her hairdressing business was closed, while her husband, Peter, took 12 months' unpaid leave from his job. "It's been a very emotional time ... There's been a lot of changes." She was pleased the Invercargill Public Library now had two copies of her My Shitty Gap Year available for the public. Dunedin Hospital haematologist Dr Jared Williams' foreword said Mrs Townson took the initial diagnosis well and was only ever focused on fighting the disease. He wrote: "The first round of chemotherapy was tough on Diane physically and mentally. "She developed a life-threatening pneumonia and sepsis requiring a period in the intensive care unit where there was no guarantee she would make it through ... but she did and was all but only interested in pushing on. Diane's determination and grit was inspiration and she was tremendously supported by her husband Peter." Mrs Townson said all the proceeds of her book sales would be donated to the Bone Marrow Cancer Trust and Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. The publishing cost of the 200 copies was paid for by crowdfunding. Copies can be bought by emailing dianetownson23@
