Supporting Indie and the Todd Family

On Tuesday 6th May, Indie Todd, a hugely loved two-year-old, was urgently flown to Starship Hospital after suffering a seizure and was found to have a large mass in her brain. What began as a hospital admission for vomiting quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare - doctors discovered a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

On arrival in Auckland, Indie underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. Two days later, she faced an 11-hour operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible. Her medical team prepared her parents for the worst. They warned she may not survive the surgery, and that if she did, she would almost certainly suffer major deficits.

Amazingly, Indie pulled through. Against the odds, she has shown no major neurological deficits and continues to demonstrate strength and resilience every day. She remained at Starship for nearly four weeks to manage ongoing brain pressure.

Once the neurosurgery team were confident in her recovery, Indie and her family were transferred to Christchurch, where she is now undergoing intensive chemotherapy - through to the end of the year.

Just three days after arriving in Christchurch, the Todds' welcomed new baby Hudson three weeks early at Christchurch Women’s Hospital. His arrival has added another layer of complexity to an already challenging time.

Indie is the kind of kid who lights up every room she walks into. She’s smart, curious, and her cheeky grin usually gives her away before she even says a word.