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Pam urgently needs life-saving surgery overseas

  • Further diagnosis, surgery and Germany so far

      30 July 2024
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    Well supporters, if you didn't know already, Pam has travelled to Germany and had surgery! This update is to let you all know that everything so far has gone well, although further intricacies were found with Pam's health, at least she has more answers than questions now! Please follow Pam's Positively Full Life on Facebook for further detailed updates.

    In a nutshell, Dr Scholbach in Leipzig was her first key to information and validation. He is such a kind and knowledgeable man and has been doing this for 24 years. The major thing that Pam took from him was that he didn't only look to find compressions, but what was causing them. Leading to a long list of things and a number of issues she must investigate on top of the compressions, hopefully even while she's there in a health system that is more supportive.

    Pam celebrated her birthday in Dusseldorf 2 days before surgery, with a whole day's rest, then a short afternoon river cruise and "dinner" with a view.

    Fast-forward to Mon 22 July in Dusseldorf, and Pam meets with Prof Sandmann, her surgeon, late that evening (pictured with Pam in this update). The next day is surgery, and you'll be pleased to hear it went well with no complications.

    As of today, Pam is 7-days post surgery and while there are ups and downs as to be expected, she is doing amazingly well so far. She is eating and drinking small amounts of food which is incredible! For someone on a tube for 2.5yrs, this is unbelievable.

    Thank you for everything! xoxo

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  • A second update in as many days 🥰

      10 July 2024
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    Today we reduce our Givealittle goal to $100k, because with private donations we are now only $22,500 short of the overall $180k goal!

    I know we go on and about how grateful we are. But we just have no other words to really express it 🥹

    We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from the general public, but also especially from the small businesses that have created products just for Pam with all proceeds going to Pam, for those that created and ran their own fundraisers for Pam, and those who have offered their services to help us out in a different way.

    We have now ✨fundraised✨ everything we need for the first few weeks in Germany! 😱🤯

    The remaining goal of $22,500 would be used for the last 4 weeks in Germany which includes accommodation, travel to Leipzig, physio, medications, other treatments during recovery and the final scan which is $8,500 on its own.

    Sincerely, we want to thank you all for donating and sharing Pam’s story, and want to be open about what the money is going towards. We have lowered the GAL goal previously when we have fundraised in other ways, such as through bank deposits and other fundraisers like our raffles that you don't get to see.

    Bring on Germany! 🇩🇪

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  • It’s official, Pam is off to Germany - and soon!

      9 July 2024
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    Thanks to all you wonderful people donating and sharing Pam’s story, Pam and mum (Joy) are heading off to Germany this coming Sunday 14 July. We have raised a whopping $145k, and while we’re still approx. $5k short and still waiting for retirement funds from Australia to be paid out, there’s just enough to pay for surgery, scans and travel arrangements for their first 3 weeks in Germany. The total time away is 6/7 weeks so there’s definitely still costs coming up.

    But we did it, we collectively as a community and a nation made this happen. And we can quite believe it. Surgery is scheduled for Tuesday 23 July and Pam will have a long and tough recovery road ahead of her. Please note she won’t be in any state to reply to messages or calls but your thoughts and prayers are very much still needed.

    Thank you a million times over, we will never be able to express how thankful we really are.

    Please follow Pam’s Positively Full Life on Facebook for updates while they’re in Germany, and you can also read & share the latest NZ Herald article published today - https://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/bay-of-plenty-mum-with-abdominal-vascular-compression-syndromes-avcs-booked-for-surgery-in-germany/VWSB7XJL55E55ABSAN45TVLADI/

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  • We’re over halfway!

      25 June 2024
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    We can’t quite believe that in only 3 months we’ve made it just over half way to our goal. It is no small feat and such a phenomenal effort by Pam, Jon, family, friends and complete strangers doing anything they can to help us, ‘thank you’ you will simply never be enough, but we are thankful nonetheless and feel incredibly grateful and humbled for everyone’s support.

    We’re are updating our Givealittle goal to reflect the donations Pam & Jon have received privately, which includes the many events, auctions, raffles and other private donations. So with that $35k received privately, our updated Givealittle goal is $155k.

    Pam & Jon’s retirement funds are that much closer to being withdrawn under hardship, hopefully only a couple of weeks to go and then we can get onto booking the travel arrangements to get Pam and mum (Joy) to Germany.

    Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support ❤️❤️❤️

    Photo from Pam, Jon and the boys recent visit to a Lego/brick day, and Pam sporting one of her new wigs to mask all her pain and fatigue.

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  • Thank you everyone who’s donated from reading BOP Times and NZ Herald!

      7 June 2024

    Wow, in only a few hours we’ve received so many amazing donations from supportive people around New Zealand. We are incredibly grateful to you all helping us reach our goal for Pam.

    While Pam and Jon are still waiting for news on withdrawing their retirement funds, they have pencilled in a date for surgery next month (July 2024). There is light at the end of the tunnel!

    Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your words of encouragement, sharing Pam’s story and spreading awareness.

    If you’re around waihi beach next week 11 June, please head along to flat white cafe for our auction night!

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  • Further funds hopeful, and Pam's daily battle

      21 May 2024
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    Pam & Jon would also like to share they have applied to withdraw under hardship their retirement (superannuation) funds from their time living in Australia. The paperwork is monstrous, and very specific. They've finally gathered it all and submitted, so now the up to 4-week wait begins to see if they are successful.

    If they are, while this will mean Pam will be able to undergo surgery this year, it does put them under huge financial pressure for the rest of their (and their kids) lives. Fundraising is still essential, so we will keep going for as long as we can and even after surgery, if required.

    We still have incredible offers of donations/products/services/vouchers etc. from businesses and with fundraising becoming a full time job for Jon and some other family members, we simply can't manage it all at once, so we will need to spread it out a little more. Or, if you are someone with capacity to run your own fundraising effort for Pam, we are so grateful. We are more than happy to offer photos/flyers that we've had previously created.

    Pam is still getting worse, she is really struggling with the pain and every day is more challenging than the last. But she keeps her spirits high, she puts on a brave face, her "mask", for her boys, her family and herself. Just know that under it all is pain and other horrific symptoms most of us cannot fathom. We are all working hard to make this surgery possible and thank you all for sharing and keeping Pam in your thoughts - xoxo, Renee

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  • Fundraising event success & more to come!

      21 May 2024
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    The last few weeks have been jam packed full of fundraising efforts, from those organised by us and others very generously organised by kind people all on their own. Beats by Bingo in Matamata raised $4k and Pam's Positively Fun Night of Trivia raised just over $4.5k! Thank you so, so much to everyone who attended, bought raffle tickets and gave other donations. Pam was determined to attend the trivia night, and here is a photo of her, Jon, Benny & Ollie with their MC Matt from Coromandel's More FM.

    We also had Madam Moo's "buy a coffee for a donation" day, Natalie Waugh Photography's 2x mini fundraisers, Leigh & Tracey's "Egg Sandwiches & Cupcakes* Mt Maunganui fundraiser walk, Sassy Sadie's voucher fundraiser, "Pam's Life" bespoke bracelets, mulch & firewood raffles and so many more amazing people doing heartwarming things to help Pam reach her goal. We cannot do this without all of your support and simply don't know how we are going to properly express our thanks to you all.

    Coming up in June will be an "Auction Night" at Flat White Cafe in Waihi Beach, so keep an eye out on our Facebook page for info on that!

    (See part 2 for further update) xoxo

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  • An update from the surgeon in Germany, and a Trivia Fundraising Night!

      5 May 2024
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    Hi everyone! Thank you for all your unwavering support. We wanted to let you all know that Pam is in contact with the specialist surgeon in Germany, getting paperwork together for all the moving parts, in the hopes she can have the surgery this year.

    What she did happen to find out during that contact, is after he reviewed her scans that were performed here in NZ, she does in fact have all 4 AVCS compressions (NCS (Nutcracker Syndrome), MTS (May-Thurner Syndrome), MALS (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome) and SMAS (Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome)). It's not too much of a surprise given Pam's symptoms and how much she understands her own health. But it does show how superior this incredible surgeon is compared to the knowledge here in NZ, for him to diagnose all 4 from just looking at the NZ scan (whereas here in NZ, she was only diagnosed with 2).

    There is a further specialist also in Germany with far-superior technology for these types of scans, so Pam is in touch with him as well. Both this specialist, and the surgeon, work closely together for patients like Pam.

    On another note, if you're keeping up with Pam's socials you will see that our Beats by Bingo FUNdraiser for Pam in Matamata next week SOLD OUT! We're so, so grateful for that and can't wait for the event.

    If you missed out, Pam's Positively Fun Night of Trivia is happening in Waihi Beach on Saturday 18 May at 6.30pm - 10pm. Check out the flyer for more info!

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  • 4-weeks of gratitude, and a new fundraising website

      23 April 2024
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    4 weeks have passed and wow, we are still blown away every time we see a donation come through at the support. Thank you, thank you...

    The next piece of news is that we've created a fundraising website! This should help streamline all the incredible fundraising events we have going. Check out the 4 we currently have going!

    The website is: https://positivelyfulllife.company.site/

    There's also a few upcoming fundraising events, including:

    Sunday 28 April - "Walk the Trig for Pam" in Waihi

    Thursday 09 May - "FUNdraiser Beats by Bingo for Pam" in Matamata

    Saturday 18 May - Trivia Night in Waihi, details TBC

    So keep an eye on the website, plus our Facebook page is well managed with information too: https://www.facebook.com/pams.positively.full.life/

    With your help, we will get Pam overseas for surgery!

    (Picture is from before Pam was sick - look at the amazing effort she puts in for her boys!)

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  • Part 3 - FUNdraiser Beats by Bingo in Matamata flyer & Pam's surgery

      9 April 2024
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    The flyer is attached to this update, sorry I can't put more than one image on each update.

    Now onto an update of Pam’s surgery journey. After hours and hours of research into the different options available (2-3 surgeons that we’re aware of), Pam has decided Germany is best suited to her. All recommendations point to ultrasound scans first by Prof Thomas Scholbach, the “gold standard” of this type of scan in the world, and he is located in Leipzig, Germany. The surgeon she has chosen, Dr Sandmann, highly regarded as the best in his field and has been doing these surgeries the longest, dealing with all types of AVCS, is located in Dusseldorf. He and Prof Scholbach work closely together. The travel will be brutal on Pam regardless, but to stay within the same country and area of Europe will be just that little bit easier for her. She is in talks with both of these medical professionals, so progress is being made.

    Thank you again everyone for your support, please keep sharing Pam’s story and jump on the Facebook page to keep updated 😊

    With Love, Renee xoxo

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  • Part 2 update

      9 April 2024
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    • I (Renee) had a lovely interview with Jolene & Max from The Breeze Tauranga, you can listen here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/7r8laxaen1rry7vwz10aa/THE-BREEZE-Tauranga-Pam-Coburn-Renee-IV-3-April-2024-08_05_01.mp3?rlkey=axsrpmteyaso4qzyz9ft44cs7&fbclid=IwAR10_Fic75iuHxpx5uqm_2q_rynrF_IBO7ecTvJNXZufrYdfL6CPA4yAscA_aem_AdLYIJVsy357SSNC3VpUCuVTDMB1zSpSv_Q2o7xO2DPioRqnvd3EYa6i04j_f5pPgTQEQjLrsCWadOMz7l93HQob&dl=0

    • Pam herself has had a couple interviews with Matt from More FM Coromandel

    • Rosalie Liddle Crawford has written another article in print; The Weekend Sun, which I’ve attached as a photo for this update

    • Pam’s amazing friend Rhianon did a mini fundraiser on Facebook and raised a huge $900!

    • And last but not least, we have our “FUNdraiser Beats by Bingo for Pam” event at Redoubt Bar & Eatery, Matamata on Thursday 9 May! Limited tickets available, $25pp and you’ll go into the draw to win a mystery prize! Get in touch with me via email (reneetaylor653@gmail.com) if you want to come along, and all details are on the flyer attached as a photo as well

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  • WOW, what a 14-days it has been since we started this Givealittle page for Pam! (Part 1)

      9 April 2024
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    We are absolutely blown away by the support and generosity of New Zealanders, people abroad, our friends, family, and communities. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts. Pam has a lot of fighting spirit in her and she will not give up hope. For herself, for her boys, her family.

    To give all our wonderful supporters an update on where things are at with Pam, if you’re not already following Pam’s Positively Full Life on Facebook and/or positively.full.life on Instagram, we highly recommend you do! We post updates regularly which include media interviews we have done or are coming up, as well as highlight stories of other Kiwis in the same battle as Pam. We also have other fun raffles and fundraising efforts happening, including an upcoming event in our hometown where we grew up as a family in Matamata.

    So a snapshot of how things are going:

    • Our sister Alaina ran a “Lucky Lotto” on Facebook and raised a whopping $720! + the $200 prize was donated back to Pam as well, so $920 total!

    • Rosalie Liddle Crawford wrote an article on Sun Live after speaking with Jon: https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/339923-helping-pam-to-get-expensive-surgery.html?fbclid=IwAR0bPBgfIF4bdoF6935GpnkhaEVvJI5H54CkglxFMLTSZuWLYXtcy8gMd5s_aem_AdLkyMcq9_cnQ10vjfD8SrEfQerW9IjoV-NJCT7yYAEofeFgHK7npB2P6knW_CwjYSkhyf-cGAYCgQwkEt9jlL1H

    • Mel from Sassy Sadie is running a raffle to win a $300 voucher for her store! $20 ticket, check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/sassysadie.info

    (More in Parts 2-3)

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