Please help Cohan and family

On the 28th of January 2019 my brother Glen, his wife Sonya and their 3 children were admitted to Starship hospital for the eldest Cohan, who is 11 years of age, to undergo major neck and spinal surgery.

To prepare for this he had to endure halo traction for 5 weeks, involving a metal ring being screwed into the skull and weights are added to lengthen out the spine as much as possible before the surgery which once done is final as it fuses the vertebrae in the neck and spine permanently, resulting in no further growth for Cohan but necessary to improve and lengthen his life expectancy as severe scoliosis of his spine was crushing his heart and lungs and beginning to restrict breathing.

Cohan was born with Vater syndrome which has meant open heart surgery at 6 months old to repair 2 holes in his heart, he was born with 1 kidney and a deformed thumb that has had surgery and then scoliosis, or curvature if his spine resulting in numerous spinal surgeries culminating in this. Cohan has been a trooper over the years being super brave and positive despite physical limitations and numerous spinal surgeries but it’s now taking a toll on him and all the family after 2 months in hospital and this (hopefully) final major 12 hour surgery.

The family were due to be admitted to Starship hospital in 2018 and multiple cancellations had left the family in limbo for over a year. The family relocated to Katikati in July leaving jobs in limbo also, unable to commit to full time work. They finally were admitted end of January, all including Nylah, 8 and Milea, 4, having to stay thankfully at Ronald McDonald house and the total stay in hospital was 2 months as post surgery Cohan developed a collapsed lung and pneumonia which extended their hospital stay even longer. Now they are home, Cohan has to be off school for a further 6 weeks, Sonya is unable to work as Cohan requires full time care and Glen is currently looking for full time employment.

Please help this family during this recovery time to get back on their feet.