Back to page

Help Baby Harper

  • Funding News

      11 February 2017

    We have received fantastic news from Auckland Hospital, the Ministry of Health has decided to fund the cost of the surgery for baby Harper, which is obviously a huge relief for Paul and Catherine.

    Any donations will go towards the travel and accommodation costs that still need to be privately paid for, all donations will be allocated to baby Harper's continued and future care and surgeries, physiotherapy, equipment and therapeutic resources as we want to ensure we give baby Harper the absolute best chance in life, and the opportunity to be able to provide extra / non funded resources will be hugely beneficial to his development. Any donations not needed for Baby Harper's personal care will be donated towards Spina Bifida research and / or other families in the same position.

    Catherine had her weekly ultrasound on Thursday and Baby Harper has still got large ventricles, so there is still the possibility that he will need to have surgery straight after birth to place a shunt to drain the fluid, although his overall condition is stable at the moment. Fingers crossed!

    Again, thank you all from the bottom of our hearts, we are so grateful for all the support and it really means the world to Paul and Catherine and especially Baby Harper.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Back Home

      8 February 2017

    Catherine and Paul are back home in Auckland! They are so happy to be reunited with their family and everything so far is going well. Catherine is 30 weeks pregnant now and hopefully baby Harper will want to stay in mum's stomach for another 7 weeks! So far the specialist in Auckland are happy with the progress and we will update you all when we have further news.

    Thank you all so much for your support!

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Amazing News

      23 January 2017

    Amazing news, Catherine and Paul had a scan done today and the Chiari Malformation in baby Harpers brain has started to reverse! By definition Baby Harper does no longer have a Chiari 2 Malformation, however there is still room for improvent. They are over the moon and are so relieved that the pain and struggle with the surgery has made a positive impact on Baby Harpers condition. Baby Harper still has fluid on his brain but this is also common after surgery, so we are hoping that this will be reversed too. Baby Harper is still kicking and moving a lot in the womb. Catherine and Paul again want to send their love to you all, words can not describe how much your support has meant to them.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Surgery Results and Update

      3 January 2017

    The surgery was successful and baby Harper is yet again safe inside his mum, and we hope he decides to stay there for the next 13 weeks. Everything went according to the surgery teams plan, and Catherine spent 5 days in intensive care but is now recovering on the ward at Mater Hospital. Catherine and Paul would like to thank you all for your messages, prayers and donations, it means so much to them and baby Harper. The results from the surgery will be monitored in the weeks to come, we will keep you all updated. We are hoping that this will result in surgery becoming more readily available for NZ families in need. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Surgery Confirmed

      24 December 2016

    The most amazing Christmas gift just arrived! Surgery has been approved and the surgeons in USA are of the opinion that surgery would be very beneficial for Baby Harper and they have therefore recommended the team in Brisbane to go ahead with the surgery. Catherine and Paul are of course both ecstatic and scared. They are so grateful to every single one of you whom have donated or shared their story, thank you all so much, and Merry Christmas! We will keep you all updated come surgery day 29th December.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Brisbane Pre-op MRI

      20 December 2016

    Catherine, Paul and Baby Harper just had the associated pre-op tests today in Brisbane with the specialists, they did MRI scan and in depth ultrasound. Baby Harper's ventricles in his brain have increased and are getting close to the cut off of what they will operate on. All the details will be sent to the Vanderbilt hospital in USA and they will check through the case and make sure Baby Harper still meet all their criteria for surgery, the surgeon in Brisbane said that with the increase he would put the potential for surgery at a 50/50 chance... The surgeon in Brisbane should have heard back from USA before Christmas, at this point the surgery is still booked for the 29th of December. So time to pray that Baby Harper get the surgery. Catherine and Paul are very anxious and we will keep you all updated as we hear about any news. Paul and Catherine would like to thank you all from the bottom of their hearts for all your love and support, it means the world to them.

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment