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Please Help Bring Ballad back from Vietnam to NZ for Treatment

  • He’s Back in NZ

      8 October 2023
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    Some minor hiccups and stressful moments but he finally landed in Auckland today. Thank you to all of you who made today possible. Not the end for him of this journey but at least he’s on Kiwi soil!

      6 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 09/10/2023 by Jane

      I hope Ballad gets the help he needs as soon as possible.

    • 09/10/2023 by Cherry

      That photo has made my day! I’m so happy for you all!

    • 09/10/2023 by Jack

      Great to see !

    • 09/10/2023 by Emma

      What a journey for you all. I've been on a similar journey with my son, stay strong, especially with the NZ MH system, don't back down. Sending love & light to you all.

    • 09/10/2023 by Whetu

      Yeah!! this is amazing!! his journey will continue X Happiness in your mummy heart for sure. Celebrating life! Much love to all of you. Whetu/Git

    • 09/10/2023 by Hilary

      Brilliant :)

  • Poetry in the Hallways

      5 October 2023
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    Ballad is improving everyday. He told me yesterday he is feeling brilliant.

    We are quietly confident that he’ll be back in NZ soon.

    Patients past and present have written poetry and notes on the walls of the hospital. Some of it is very sad.

    Thank you everybody for checking in to see how he’s doing.

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    • 05/10/2023 by Hilary

      Great news :-)

  • Flights are Booked! On a KFC Wing and Prayer!

      30 September 2023
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    We are all blown away by the amazing support we have been given from you all. It means so much. I read all your comments and I know Ballad sees some too.

    We have now flexi booked flights ( thank you all for helping with this) and we are feeling positive about him being home in a week or so 🤞

    Ballad is improving and last night slept for nine hours!!!

    His dad got some KFC delivered for him which he really enjoyed. There are no meals and no cooking at the hospital- so food must be supplied and brought in by the family. The thought of making him a home cooked meal makes me cry. From Amanda his mum.

      4 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

    • 30/09/2023 by Cherry

      This sounds promising. Very happy to know that you have been able to take these first steps!

    • 30/09/2023 by Whetu

      This gives me goosebumps! When we united we can move mountains and in this case we can move Ballad. Yes ... I totally get that it makes you cry Amanda ... out of the womb, pure, our children, precious. XX Whetu (Git)

    • 30/09/2023 by Jenny

      What fantastic news. SO happy for you all.

      Our children are so very precious and he needs to be home with his family.

      Givealittle is such a fabulous means to ask for help. GIVEALITTLE and the generosity of NZ’ers gave my late daughter an extra 13 months of life in funding an

      Hugely expensive unfounded drug.praying for every success for your sons recovery💐

    • 01/10/2023 by Amanda Hanan

      Thank you for these beautiful messages and sharing your stories with me. Your kindness has really meant a lot to our family.

  • More Comes to Light

      29 September 2023

    As well as hospital bills, medical expenses, living costs, travel, accommodation and transfers and specialist help on flights if required and flights for Ballad and his father, Ballad while having mania (and apparently this is common during a manic episode) we have found that Ballad has damaged property and incurred debts to local people. We would like on his behalf to settle those so he does not have to worry about what he did when he gains insight into this and so he can focus on just getting better.

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  • Welcome to the hotel Biên Hòa, 🎵🎵🎶🎵

      28 September 2023
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    We have just heard that Ballad's condition has been improving and he finally got to see his Dr today and the Doc thinks he may be well enough next weekend to fly home. We don't know how we organise that yet, but we will be doing all we can to make that happen.

    No doubt Ballad and his dad will miss the Biên Hòa Hilton as they have been making the most of the facilities that the hospital has to offer. The super comfy beds with metal slats with no sheets are truly character building.

    While Ballad cannot leave the hospital his father enjoys the long three times daily walk to get all food and water and carry it all back, after crossing a very wide and dangerous street with very fast cars, in the 35 degree heat. When he gets back, he knows the other guests have missed him as they have taken a memento to remember their Kiwi friends by - like all their clothes, or shampoo's, or insect repellent - aw bless!

    Oh and one day we'll laugh so hard about the time the Dr thought Ballad's father was the patient and the time when someone wee'd on the floor in their room. The adventure continues but feels a little more bearable with the promise of home. Ballad has been reading the comments on the page, sometimes it makes him so happy to hear what you have said, and other times he says he doesn’t deserve all this help.

    Nothing goes smooth in Vietnam - but watch this space and we will update you when we know more about the trip home. Fingers crossed. Please continue to share

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  • Mania while sad - sometimes also funny

      26 September 2023
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    Ballad is being given strong meds to help sleep and quiet his mania.

    Some of his thoughts are a little off and today he apologised to the patients and Drs for NZs involvement in the Vietnam war.

    He has been entertaining other patients with his rapping and singing skills - helps when your audience is a captive one.

    He of course does not like being there and yesterday sent a post on his Instagram to say he was being held hostage.

    We are so grateful for all your donations. Both his father and I strongly believe if his dad did not get there when he did, Ballad was so manic and out of control- that he would have been injured seriously or worse.

    We still wait to hear how we can get him out of hospital and what is the exit strategy.

    If you want to keep helping Ballad please keep sharing the posts everywhere you can think of. If you know people who have a lot of followers on Instagram or Tik Tok - please share with them!

    Ballad’s givealittle was the top trending page today! Amazing mahi everyone.

    Love to you all Ballad’s mum Amanda.

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