Rachel & Jax: The Holistic Hairdresser & the Heart Kid

Whether you know the name Rachel Dunstan or not, if you, or someone you know has a child with disability, then it's likely she's in some way helped you behind the scenes. She's been quietly, but relentlessly challenging the systems & resources our country provides for these children, and for her own little miracle, Jaxon, who in his 6 short years has been diagnosed with Autism, Congenital Heart disease (open heart surgery at 9 weeks), Asthma, Hyperactivity and now Epilepsy.

Throughout this journey, Rachel and her partner, Tama have had to experience, endure, negotiate, advocate, stand up, fight, defend and act as the voice for Jax, on a local and national scale. Thanks to her tireless efforts and determination, Jax was once totally non-verbal, but is now partially verbal thanks to Rachel's sheer determination and commitment to prove that we just need to spend enough time learning and listening to these kids, what they need & how they learn, .

I was lucky enough to meet Rachel while working on a local theatre production nearly 15 years ago. I was a severely overweight, acne riddled kid with a "weird" personality, low self-esteem and big dreams. She saw straight through my 18 year old cocky, loud & eccentric cover, and saw the nervous, insecure and unconfident teenager that lay underneath. So she took it upon herself to bring back my confidence & help me believe in myself. A year later, I ventured out into the world to tackle the dreams I had, which I did, and now I attribute part of my success to her and many others.

I've returned again 12 years later, due to some difficult personal circumstances & to contribute back to my community. In doing so, I reconnected with Rachel and her selfless & compassionate nature remains unchanged. She's not only fixed my hair, but my pain and confidence too, and has me living my best hair life, and just a better life in general, once again.

That's my story, but I know there are hundreds of others out there who have also been touched by Rachel's kindness & care and have similar stories, as she's dedicated her life to helping others. Whether that be through hair dressing, photography, creative endeavours, community involvement, and now through child disability advocacy for her boy, and other parents, carers and kids coping with similar hardships also.

Below is a link to an article published where you can see only one of her many achievements.

https://www.pressreader.com/new-zealand/the-timaru-herald/20180423/281565176362137

On top of all of the above, she's established her own hair salon & nursery in Makikihi, in order to be self-employed and available for Jax if and when he needs her, and he needs her every day. She never stops. But even through all of her efforts, life continues to serve blindsides.

Recently, Jax had two life threatening seziures, one causing him to stop breathing. Thankfully, he's now recovering, but has been diagnosed with Epilepsy, even though they're unable to test him as he's unable to do what's required. He's started new medication that comes with side effects, which Jax can't say. Even when he's at school or with another carer, she has to be on call 24/7 incase of another emergency, regardless of what she's doing, and forced to leave if anything happens, which means she will have to cut down her hours, leave or cancel appointments, and can only take it day by day, minute by minute.

So to alleviate some of the weight and financial strain of what she's going through, I ask you kindly, to do what you can for Rachel. If you can spare a donation towards Jax's medical and personal needs, as I know Rachel will never ask herself, given her nature and belief that there are others in greater need, but sacrifices everything for him, and many others. It will help just letting her know, that her selfless efforts haven't gone unnoticed, or unappreciated.

If you're close to her, reach out, but be patient in waiting for a response due to the daily struggles she's continuously facing. Sometime's all we need to know, is that someone's there, and is thinking about us, and supporting them, even from a distance.

Thank you all, and as Rachel said in a "Jax Update" the other day:

"Tonight when you tuck in your babies, give them an extra cuddle or an extra "I love you".

I'm counting my blessings, Jax is still here." <3