Help Carola's family in the next stage of her recovery

The last four months has been a long journey for Carola and her family. Progress has been slow and the family has faced multiple setbacks.

Carola is still in Auckland hospital however, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel. Carola has improved to a place where she will be able to return to Haistings Hospital. This is a big leap forward and the family is thrilled to see this improvement. Everyone is thrilled.

That said, Neil and the family still need help to get through the next stage of this illness. Neil will be taking care of the kids and Carola. He will be unable to go back to full-time work and still needs financial support. So we are coming to you all again. If you are able to give anything to support the family as they embark on the second stage of this difficult journey, please do. Anything we can do to wrap around Neil, Carola, and the kids would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thank you to all who have donated and are able to donate again.

Kia Kaha

Carola and Neil met in Chile in 1996 in the last year of high school, their love story is material for a movie. Happily married for over 12 years, they have 2 wonderfull children. They recently left their busy lives in Auckland to start again in a small town south of Hastings called Otane. Their aim was to live a simpler life as a family. Carola was looking after the kids while Neil began his career as an Acupuncturist running a practice out of a clinic in Waipukurau, Hastings, and based at home.

Tragically Carola has suffered a severe attack of pancreatitis just before New Years that almost took her life. She was induced into a coma and given a grim diagnosis. In a desperate move doctors flew her and her loving family from Hawkes Bay Hospital to Auckland last week to undertake a complicated surgery and try to save her life.

Our beloved Carola has given an incredible fight and remained strong every minute, every hour and every day. We are confident that she will come back home to her high school sweetheart and her beloved children.

Doctors have advised her battle will be a long one and in the meantime, Neil and the kids are in Auckland supporting her every day. Family love and support is essential to her fight for life. Carola and her family need your support too. Neil's practice as an acupuncturist was thriving in the Hawkes Bay, but he has had to abandon this for now to be with Carola and look after their kids.

Bills keep coming in and the costs associated with having the family away from home are not insignificant. Any funds committed to the family will assist Neil to focus on keeping his family, Carola and the two kids together and help to cover the cost of living during his stay in Auckland. It's likely that they will be there for several weeks to a few months. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.