Family of 8's lives changed in an instant.

Just over a year ago now, this young family's life changed dramatically,

Casie, mum of 6, got sick, and when nothing at home was helping she went to the doctor who put her on antibiotics and said it was a chest infection.

No improvement.

Over the next 4 months she wasn’t getting better and declining rapidly, she repeatedly went to the Dr and A&E. They did nothing.

Eventually her doctor referred her for a mental health assessment blaming it on stress.

The next morning she was in cardiac arrest on her bathroom floor. Izzy, 16, called 111, paramedics arrived and performed CPR, rushed her to hospital, doctors diagnosed her with a sub-massive bilateral pulmonary embolism, blood thinners were administered to treat the clots. What they didn't know at the time was the CPR that saved her life broke 6 ribs and had lacerated her liver causing her to bleed out internally.

Casie was taken in for an emergency laparotomy and put into an induced coma.

Lafaele maxxed out his sick leave from work, supporting his family at home and a constant at Casie's bed side.

Today, Casie has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury and is unable to work, with no support from ACC as she had to leave her job before this ordeal because she was too sick to work.

Now their youngest daughter (3) has been admitted to hospital with Mastoiditis and Meningitis. Lola has been in hospital for a week getting treatment, 3 procedures under anesthesia in less than 4 days.