Loren - an incredible mother, teacher, environmental champion and friend who needs us now.
Northland
Kia ora, Hello, Hola. This is Loren and her family who are reeling after her devastating diagnosis of motor neuron disease.
MND is rare and terrifying and we are struggling to believe that a young, healthy mother of two extraordinary bilingual boys aged 2 and 3 years could have it.
Since returning to NZ with her Spanish partner, Gines only six years ago, they have had babies, built a house, planted organic gardens & thousands of trees and established their home near Ngunguru, Northland.
Loren is an exceptional teacher at Ngunguru School, who has pushed all barriers aside to develop an environmental education programme with students which engages the whole community. She is well loved by the children, and our school and community are extremely proud of her.
MND is exceptionally frightening as there is little understanding of this deadly disease and the medical profession has nothing to offer. Today, Loren is almost fully mobile, but there is no knowing when and how quickly motor skills will be impacted.
With their usual strength, tenacity and positive focus, they are seeking every bit of information and help available. Loren is determined to stay well, to see her boys grow up and to become a granny. She is also determined to see her school and community embed their role of environmental protectors (kaitiakitanga) into their everyday worlds.
We have discovered there are two key elements to helping make life easier and slow progression of the disease. One is swimming, as this is the best exercise which will help her keep fit without stressing muscles. We need your help to raise funds to build a pool which Loren can use every day and where she can also spend time with the boys and teach them to swim.
The second is taking two supplements. Lunacin ( a soy derivative) and products from the Deanna Protocol. We need your help to raise funds to help pay for these products… It’s almost $1000.00 a month to use both. You can find out more information about them online.
We hope and pray to all our gods that a cure can be found as there is much international research happening, including in the field of stem cells and new drug development. Both seem to be light years away and MND is a race against time.
Hi, I'm a good friend of Lorens - we teach together at Ngunguru School. I have set up this page on behalf of Lorens family and friends, and on behalf of the many people wanting to support this amazing woman and her beautiful family. Particularly those overseas. By giving even just a little, we can all make a big difference.
From Loren's family 18 December 2017
As 2017 draws to a close, it also ends the first year of Motor Neuron Disease gate crashing our lives. It also ends the GiveaLittle Fundraiser for Loren and family. The year has had many highs and some major lows as we have tossed and turned and learned and tried to understand and come to terms with it all.
In many ways the year has been blessed….the disease has moved relatively slowly to date. Others are not so fortunate. The major highs have come from the love, support and generosity of all of you…..family, friends, Ngunguru school and community and total strangers who have read Loren’s story and sent messages of support and understanding. In total $23,000 has been donated through both the Givealittle page and The Hope Fund. There have been garage sales and sausage sizzles around the country and lots of donated time and effort to support her. Even a Kiwi, released at Tutukaka has been named Tumanako (Hope) to honour her ongoing commitment to educating children about our natural environment. Every cent has made a difference. It has enabled Loren to access the best alternative healthcare, which is the only weapon in the fight to slow down disease progress. We know it has made a difference. Although the Givealittle Fund ends on Xmas day, we will continue to raise funds to achieve the goal of providing a pool, equipment that is not publically funded and most of all enabling Loren and her family to make the most of what our beautiful planet has to offer. From the bottom of my heart, as Loren’s mother…thank you for making a difference.
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