Fundraise for Michelle

$10,510 donated

Given by 155 generous donors in around 6 months

Michelle died tragically while on holiday in Rarotonga. This is to help Rarotonga buy equipment to care for people needing emergency care.

Waikato

Michelle tragically died in Rarotonga while on holiday with her husband Bruce and a group of friends.

She had developed a kidney infection, which led to sepsis, and required stabilising and emergency airlifting to New Zealand.

Unfortunately, Michelle could not be stabilised in time and passed away in the Rarotongan Hospital on Sunday 6th of August 2017 (NZ time).

Michelle was a fun loving, caring, wife to Bruce, mother to Levi, smummy (step mother) to Karla and Nicole, daughter to Ross and Annette, sister and sister in law to Paul & Penne, Shannon & Nick, and Kerryn & Brynn, granddaughter, aunty, niece and friend to many. She was far too young at only 37 and had so much more to give. This event was a real tragedy and with your help we would like to take steps to prevent this happening to others on holiday in that beautiful part of the world.

While the staff at the Hospital did everything they could, the access they had to vital equipment was lacking. We are therefore trying to fundraise to enable equipment to be bought for the Rarotongan Hospital’s High Dependency Unit, so others in a similar position to Michelle, may be saved.

Please paste the following links into your browser to see newspaper articles written at the time:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/95996512/family-of-michelle-robertson-work-for-rarotonga-dialysis-aid

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11908758

Family of Michelle Robertson's involvement (page creator)

We are the family of Michelle. We want to try to minimise the risk of something like this happening to someone elses loved one.

Use of funds

Funds raised will be used to buy much needed equipment for the High Dependency Unit of the Rarotonga Hospital.

NB: the newspaper articles talk about buying dialysis equipment but this may not be possible as there are many factors to consider before dialysis equipment could work in the Cook Islands. Bruce is working directly with the Ministry of Health and Rarotonga Hospital to determine what equipment would be of most use.

Other page links

on Facebook

Equipment Purchased 23 October 2018

Hi all. Apologies for the lack of updates but things have been very busy in the background with much happening. As you will see from the attached pictures the donations from all of you kind and generous people have been put to good use. A patient monitoring system (with accessories) has been purchased for use in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) in Rarotonga. The monitor is the same as an existing monitor in their operating theatre and one of the components is a transport monitor that can be used in a medivac back to NZ.

Bruce and Levi were in Rarotonga during the recent school holidays and were able to see the monitor (hence the pictures) and talk to the staff and management who were very happy and appreciative of the new addition.

In addition another health supplier had seen the articles in the newspapers and online and also donated a number of smaller machines (Optiflow) for use in the hospital at absolutely no cost. Both the supplier who supplied the patient monitor and the other NZ healthcare company have been very generous. They either donated goods for free or provided big discounts and free shipping to Rarotonga so the raised funds could do maximum good. It is great that some big NZ companies show they have a heart and come forward when there is a need.

This doesn't fill the hole Michelle's passing has left in a lot of our lives but it does help to know that, with the help of a lot of generous and caring people, there is a lasting legacy through which other people will undoubtedly benefit. Thank you to all who donated and to all those who spread the word. It is much appreciated♥️

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