Valencias Road to Recovery

Please help support Valencia and her whanau.

This is her story……..

Valencia has contracted a rare disease called SJS : Stevens Johnson Syndrome is a serious and potentially fatal skin condition that can be caused in a number of ways, most commonly through the use of some medications. This skin disease most commonly affects children and young adults, and the symptoms can cause pain, discomfort and even death. This may be followed by a red rash across the face and the trunk of the body, which can continue to spread to other parts of the body.

The rash can form into blisters, and these blisters can form in areas such as the eyes, mouth and vaginal area. The mucous membranes can become inflamed.

Treating a child with SJS is an involved process, and every effort is first made to identify the cause.

Care is given in the burns unit of a hospital due to the severe skin problems sustained by the child and the risk of infection being contracted through the areas where skin has come away and left exposed flesh. Depending on whether another infection has occurred, antibiotics may also be administered. Oral examinations and treatment, eye examinations, and fluid replacement can all form part of the treatment for SJS, and in some cases topical and oral corticosteroids may also be administered by the doctor.

Valencia has been affected by all of the above and is currently in Rotorua hospital.

Valencias treatment is going to be a long road to recovery.

Valencia is 9 years old, her and two sisters Kaylee and Jahzelle attend Owhata Primary School,

her younger sister Kirikowhai and brother Joseph attend Ebabies.

Mum works at Countdown and Dad was recently made redundant from Lumbercube but has just started work in Pokeno. Auckland.

They currently have no home and live with Nanny. Mums parents have come from Australia to help look after Valencia and the whanau, as both Mum and Dad continue to work to support their family.The Owhata Friends of the School (OFOTS) Owhata Primary School and Ebabies whanau have come together to fundraise for Valencia and her whanau.

They are having a Road to Recovery Fundraiser on Saturday 3rd September 2016.