Frankie to the Rescue

Frankie to the Rescue was created in December 2021 in memory of our beautiful Frankie who passed away in April 2021. We support families who have a child receiving palliative care via the team at Starship in Auckland and also Nurse Maude in Christchurch. We provide things like parking coupons for hospital, meal delivery vouchers and also gifts for parents and children. We also support the Oncology and Neurology wards at Starship by way of our 'present boxes.' The nurses love being able to make up their own little gift bag for a child who needs it.

Our lives changed forever in December of 2020 when our beautiful son, Frankie (3), was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer in the brain stem. We quickly learnt that both chemo and surgery were not options for Frankie due to the location and type of tumour. After the initial 12 day stay at Starship, we brought him home for Christmas. He then had 33 days of radiation treatment, where he was so brave throughout and a wee trooper as we drove in and out of Auckland Hospital daily. He stole the hearts of the amazing team working in radiation with his humour and beautiful belly laugh. He never had another night in hospital and it was this unique part of Frankie's journey that prompted us to work closely with the palliative care team for children in similar situations who have no more treatment options, but want to make the most of the short time left with family and friends in their home environment.

Frankie was cheeky, loud, and the kindest, sweetest boy who had a love for fire trucks, tractors and his big sister Scarlett. He loved watching Fireman Sam and Paw Patrol and it was this love for anything ‘rescue themed’ that inspired the name Frankie to the Rescue. Fire and Emergency NZ have supported us from the beginning and continue to send us resources such as the fold up firetrucks, activity sheets and other goodies that we can distribute.

We hope that through this work we're able to help bring some joy to children facing really tough times and at the same time keep Frankie's memory alive in such a special way.

Thanks for joining #frankiesrescuecrew

Love Warrick, Michelle, Scarlett, Frankie, and the Wood and Kiesanowski families xx