Brittany, NZ Health has let her down. After starting facial reconstruction they tell her there is no money to finish the job!

$282,989 of $400,000 goal

Given by 4271 generous donors in around 12 months

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Fundraising for Brittany to get her surgery

Christchurch, Canterbury

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Brittany has a new page here: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/brittany-lets-get-this-done

After 12 months of enduring an external metal distraction to realign her jaw, which would then be followed with fat grafting and a prosthetic jaw fitted, she had a meeting with one of her Dr’s on Thursday the 2nd Dec, assuming they would be booking her in for next step only to be told BUT there is no funding available through the DHB for the surgery!!!

After 17 years this girl deserves a break - if the Govt wont pay for it, lets help her out and just get it done!

Brittanys' story of how she got here is below:

Over 17 years ago, at 8 years old, Brittany was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma stage 3.

She went through 12 months of chemotherapy, radiation and a partial trial of a resection, a MRI showed no evidence of cancer in Oct 2007. But in March 2008 an MRI found the tumor was back with a vengeance. Brittany was palliative, no other treatment or options were available, “her parents were told to take her home and keep her comfortable with morphine”, she had no symptoms, she looked amazing, they were numb!!

Her mum, Dawn, wouldn’t accept this and knew there must be someone who can help Brittany, after googling she found an amazing consultant in Lower Hutt who was prepared to remove the tumour as long as it would be curative, not to give her more time. After a 13 hour operation, It worked but they needed to removed part of her skull base and all of her jaw, this was replaced by a free flap ( from her stomach muscle), she looked different but was alive.

After years of ongoing surgeries, losing her hearing and sight on her right side as well as over 100's of admissions to hospital Brittany had a plan to look a little “normal”.

An external metal distraction was attached which she turned with a special screwdriver to stretch and bring the face more central. This has been on over 12 months, once removed fat grafting and then excitingly a skull base prosthetic jaw. But with no funding available she cannot get some semblance of a normal life back.

Anna Meyer's involvement (page creator)

Family friend

Use of funds

Surgery - Fat grafting and a skull base prosthetic jaw. And any other costs associated with surgery/recovery.

Family Very Grateful 23 November 2022

So, as we come to the close of the Givealittle page, Brittany and her family just want to say a huge and gracious thank you to each and everyone who donated.

Donations are still coming in and we are very grateful for everyone's generosity.

The TV show Sunday is going to be following through Brittany's story and surgery and have been to CHCH to do the first of the interviews with Mirama Kamo (Brittany thinks she's lovely).

We are still waiting on ACC to make a final decision as the Dr's in Auckland don't want to proceed until they have ACC's approval as well, as there will be so much follow-up and future surgeries for Brittany.

Brittany herself is hopeful things will happen in the New year, she is currently struggling with eating, much more than usual and may be looking at getting a PEG ( feeding tube in her tummy) inserted to help with nutrition. She is slowly coming to terms with the recent loss of her much-loved grandmother and has some solace in a beautiful ragdoll cat that visits and comforts her every day. We think it belongs to the neighbours but the cat ( don't know her name yet) visits and stays with her every day. Brittany lost her lovely Bella ( bichon ) months ago so the cat is great company. Maybe after the surgery we'll get her another little dog.

Once again - thank you all for your support

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