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Mikayla's bad experience with the NZ health system

  • Worrying news

      14 August 2017

    Hi everyone - I thought you maybe interested to hear how Mikayla is getting on. It turns out the last update which reported the early signs of recovery was posted a little too hastily. The doctors have not been able to stabilise Mikayka's pressure in her brain and she is now waiting for a place in theatre ( I really mean she is waiting right now ) to insert a permanent drain / shunt into her stomach. I am not sure from where the shunt will come from - spine or brain -but I do know it will have a long term effect on her ability to travel too far away from a hospital. She has been in extreme pain again and the pressure is now affecting her sense of smell, taste and hearing. Still no imorovement in her eyesight. Mel - obviously has been unable to work and has used up all her sick leave and annual leave. Thanks again to everyone who has helped - fingers crossed the next update is more positive.

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  • Progress on Mikayla

      7 August 2017

    Hello to all the amazing people who have donated to help Mel and Mikayla - I thank you. Mikayla is still in CHCH hospital and the doctors think they have got on top of the fluid pressure in her head/eyes - but even as the pressure has started to stabilize and the bruising of her optic nerve has decreased, her eye sight has not improved in line with the improvement in pressure/bruising. The good news - in one eye she has some vision - that damage seems to be related to 'field of vision' in that the eye with some vision, has a much reduced field of vision (<5%). Presumably this will stop Mikayla being able to drive and do a lot of everyday things we all take for granted. The eye doctors claim Mikayla is the worst case they have seen (when comparing with others who have suffered eye problems following a virus). Again, the outcome would likely have been more positive if she had been treated after the first ambulance took her to Ashburton hospital.

    The virus remains un-diagnosed - but since the last post Mikayla has come out in an itchy rash which points again to a virus being the underlying cause.

    We are all hoping she defies the doctors prognosis and that her eyesight returns to that of a normal 20-year old - she turned 20 while in hospital!

    Thanks again

    Mikayla's family

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