Let's give back and spread some love to the Simmons family

Grace-Hyde (24) and family have endured many challenges, mostly medical based. Grace-Hyde has spent life living with a condition called neurofibromatosis type 1 - benign tumours that grow anywhere within the nervous system. Some of these have been partially removed, others required radiotherapy and in the process, has had to have different areas of the spine and neck fused.

Whilst coping with all of this, the sister was battling cancer, that she fortunately beat. Their mother Janice has dedicated her life to looking after both of her children with their extended medical needs, whilst running her own charity for others in need of a little love.

The most recent tumour has changed life drastically, from being able to walk one month to the next being paralysed from the chest down, resulting in emergency surgery to debulk a spinal tumour as much as possible. This time a sample was sent to Germany, and after much waiting the family were told it was cancerous, which is incredibly rare (about 7%), and is currently the only one known in NZ. Grace-Hyde, the family and the Doctors have no idea how long this palliative period will be; Doctors have estimated 6-12months at best.

The Simmons family have always given so much to others, and I would love to see them receive, so they can make some beautiful memories with the time they have left left. The family unit has never been out of Auckland together with the support of friends and hiring transport this maybe possible.