Supporting Our Warrior Princess Ailani and Her Whānau 🌸

Ailani was born on 9 October 2025, deeply loved & eagerly awaited. Moments after birth she struggled to breathe, & doctors discovered serious complications. Before she was 12 hours old, she underwent her first surgery.

Her first week was spent in NICU, unable to be held, surrounded by tubes & machines. After two months in Waikato Hospital, she finally went home, still NG‑tube fed but wrapped in love.

A Sudden Turn

Just 3.5 weeks later, Ailani became critically unwell. She stopped breathing, turned blue, & Māmā had to perform CPR. Two days later she went into cardiac arrest in her mum’s arms. She was resuscitated & flown to Starship by the Westpac PICU chopper, where surgeons inserted a tracheostomy after discovering her airway had collapsed.

A Rare Diagnosis

Ailani has now been diagnosed with VACTERL association — a rare condition affecting multiple body systems. This means ongoing surgeries, treatment, & specialist care around the clock.

Ailani is our little warrior princess — smiling, fighting, & surrounded by love. Any koha, big or small, will make a meaningful difference to the kids. Sharing this page also helps.