We are creating this page as our beautiful friends Russ and Toni deserve all the support for their gorgeous daughter Indie, 22 months old.
Martinborough, Wellington
The journey Indie has been on so far in her short life has not been easy. She has been in and out of hospitals since birth receiving treatments and having numerous surgeries. Indie is currently tube fed, prior to this she was vomiting after most feeds resulting in malnourishment to the point her hair and teeth were falling out. On the daily basis she is in pain which results in little and unsettled sleep. After hundreds of tests and ongoing investigations Indie is still without a diagnosis.
Indie has just spent three weeks at an intensive therapy centre for children in Australia. The Centre of Movement is a paediatric rehabilitation centre that involves a team of specialists that will help re-wire, strengthen and create new neural pathways through neuroplasticity to find ease, coordination, new transitions and movements to help build more strength and independence. During Indies first 3-week intensive programme she has already mastered rolling and is now learning to sit independently. This has given Russ and Toni hope for Indie’s future so she can meet her potential and exceed everyone’s expectations.
The specialists have recommended that Indie returns to the Centre of Movement in Australia three more times before her third birthday (October 2025) with each trip costing $20,000 to $25,000. By reaching out and making this givealittle page this could be made possible for them.
Thank you so much for supporting Indie on her journey.
Long term friends of Toni and Russ
The funds will go towards more intensive therapy sessions, flights, accommodation and big sister Zahli (3) joining her family on Indie’s treatment journey.
THANK YOU ❤️🩹 28 June 2025
Sorry we have been quiet with updates on our page. The past 5 months alone indie has spent over half of that in hospital including an urgent life flight to Wellington where she ended up in ICU. A couple of weeks ago Indie was in Starship PICU. Now as we are writing this three weeks later, she is in Wellington ICU and has just come out of theatre after another emergency. Our days and nights are spent trying to make her comfortable and calm.
We are very lucky that after two years we have an amazing metabolic specialist who isn’t giving up on Indie. She has reached out to specialist and researchers all over the world, who are helping us try and piece together the best options for Indie.
The fear, the uncertainty, the constant worry — they have become our new normal. What we didn't expect, and what has given us so much strength, is the not just the happy smiley moments we get from our Indie but the overwhelming kindness from our community.
It reminds us that we are not alone in this journey — that behind every tough day, there are people like you lifting us up, helping us carry the weight, and reminding us to keep fighting. Because of your generosity, we can focus more on Indies healing and less on the heavy financial burdens that come with treatment. Indie will be needing a lot of intensive therapy which unfortunately isn’t cheap or funded. It’s been an emotional journey, and seeing how many people care has truly lifted us up during this difficult time.
Your message will be displayed on the page and emailed to the donor.
Your new message will also be emailed to the donor.
Saving a blank entry will delete the current comment.