Connor needs a home!

In early 2012, Connor's parents bought a house after the quakes wanting some security to raise their then, small family. It is a two bedroom cottage that they planned to renovate and extend to accommodate them as they grew. EQC said to not do anything until their claim was settled as this could jeopardise their claim.

Last year their eldest child, Connor (8 years of age) was diagnosed with a brain tumour, Medula Blastoma. Their world was shattered. Within hours, their fit, funny, kind wee boy within hours was in Intensive Care fighting for his life. He had surgery to remove the tumour, but when he awoke he was unable to do the most basic of movements, unable to blink, swallow, make any sounds or move. He was diagnosed with Posterior Fossa Syndrome (PFS) as a complication of his surgery.

Connor needs full assistance with either Karen or Mark needing to stay with Connor so that he has someone caring and advocating for him 24 hours a day. Karen has been with Connor for the majority of his stay and Mark has been juggling work and looking after their two daughters, Madden (6) and Murphy (2) as well as changing over with Karen at hospital. However, three weeks ago, Mark was made redundant due to his employer going into liquidation.

EQC concentrated on resolving their claim and after five years agreed the house was over cap. However, their private insurer has decided that they are not responsible for any further payment for repairs as they purchased post-quake and were only entitled to indemnity value.

Karen has only been able to attend work five hours a week since November and now Mark is unemployed.

Connor and his family will now head to Auckland to attend an amazing rehabilitation facility, The Wilson Centre for up to three months.

Due to the severity of Connor’s disability, their broken home requires substantial modification and repairs to accommodate him and the rest of their family.