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Stay up-to-date with @Heart news
The ‘Heartline’ newsletter gives you an update of @Heart news, events and ways to get involved. You can download and read our latest copy below.
The printing of Heartline October 2011 has been funded by Pub Charity.
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WE SUPPORT KIDS, TEENS, ADULTS AND FAMILIES@HEART
WE PROVIDE FUNCTIONAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
WE FUND EQUIPMENT
WE EDUCATE
WE INFORM
WE FUND RESEARCH
WE LISTEN, WE LEARN, WE ACT
WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE
@Heart, we know what life is like living with a childhood heart condition. We have been providing support services to children with heart conditions and their families since 1984.
The needs of those with a childhood heart condition are different from the needs of those who acquire heart disease later in life. Whilst there are other organisations that focus on promoting healthy living and the prevention of heart disease acquired through lifestyle choice, @Heart’s focus is on those who are living with a childhood heart condition that has existed from conception or as a result of rheumatic fever, cardiomyopathy, or Kawasaki disease. We are the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to supporting all those affected by a childhood heart condition.
@Heart primary goal is to reach and improve the lives of everyone living with childhood heart conditions. Our mission is to provide life long support for all affected by the world's most common birth defect or heart disease acquired during childhood.
We're here to help every step of the heart journey - from when it is diagnosed through childhood, the teenage years and into adulthood.
Our practical and emotional support is vital for those affected, helping them cope with the day-to-day challenges of living with a childhood heart condition.
@Heart is registered with the Charities Commission, registration number: CC20102. |
In 1980, Linda Davies and Michelle Mann met in Greenlane* Hospital. Their newborn babies were suffering from major heart problems, and sadly both children died in 1981. From their experiences, Linda and Michelle realised there was very little written information for parents of a heart child and they felt a book was needed.
When they left hospital Linda and Michelle spent a great deal of time finding information and surveying other families with a heart child. In 1983 the book "Heart Children" was published and made available free to parents of children who had a heart condition.
While they had set out only with the intention of writing a book, Linda and Michelle soon found themselves acting in a much needed support role to other families "going through" Greenlane Hospital. Over a period of time, as families returned to their own part of New Zealand, a network of support groups was established.
This network was co-ordinated by the Auckland group who formalised themselves as Heart Children Incorporated in 1984. The organisation continued to grow and in August 1994 a national board was elected. A new constitution was adopted in 1995 and the organisation renamed Heart Children New Zealand Inc.
Visit our Contact Info for your nearest group.
Left: Michelle Mann and Linda Davies,founders of Heart Children and co-authors of the book cutting the cake at the 15 year celebration of Heart Children New Zealand in Auckland.
*In December 2003, the Paediatric Cardiac Unit was relocated from Greenlane Hospital to Ward 23B at Starship Children's Hospital as part of the Auckland District Health Board's health delivery plan and the building of the new Auckland Hospital. @Heart’s work continues on in its support to families in the same way as when the PCU was housed at Greenlane Hospital. |
Ordinary Members are defined as: Parents of children with a heart condition and heart children having attained the age of 18 years.
This means that any family with a heart child and any heart child over the age of 18 years will automatically become Ordinary Members of @Heart for life. The extent to which you decide to take advantage of this membership is of course a personal decision, however there are several benefits:
- Regular news updates via our Heartline magazine.
- Attendance at our heart camps at subsidised cost.
- Provision of a MedicAlert™ Bracelet free of charge.
- Opportunities to meet with other heart families via our Branch network.
- Attendance at our Conferences and Seminars.
- Membership of the Zipper Kidz Club™.
- Supply of a Coaguchek machine as required.
- The opportunity to vote on matters affecting the organisation.
To enable this service we will need to keep your personal records on file, please complete the MEMBERSHIP FORM and post it to @Heart, PO Box 108-034 Symonds Street, Auckland 1150. You can also scan and email it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Please also use this form if you are already a member and wish to inform us of changes in your circumstances e.g. address, family members, email address etc.
A warm welcome to the @Heart family! |
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Northern:
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Alistair Munro
Alistair grew up in Wellington, but for the last 20 years he has lived in Auckland. He has two children, Sarah and Matthew. Matt was born in 1996 with Sick Sinus Syndrome and since he was 2 1/2 has been living with a pacemaker. Alistair and Matt’s mother Tracy have supported the organisation ever since Matt was born. Alistair's contribution has been predominately at the camps, having helped out at all of the Camp Brave Hearts that Matt attended and he has been Camp Dad at two recent Camp Teen Beats. In the past he has also provided technology consultancy support as well as running public speaking sessions at Branch Seminars. Alistair is also on his local high school, Pakuranga College Board of Trustees, runs public speaking training courses via his long term involvement with Toastmasters and coached both his children's cricket teams over a 7 year period. Since 1995, Alistair has run his own computer support and database development company.
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Auckland:
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Donna Jujnovich, Chairperson
Lives in Auckland and is married to Malcolm with two children, Daniel and Nicholas and is the daughter of Nana Marie, volunteer Family Support Worker on Ward 23B. Nicholas, the youngest was born in 1991 with Tetralogy of Fallot. Nicholas had an emergency Blalock Shunt at 2 months and a major TOF repair in 1993. In September 1997, because of arrhythmia he had a pacemaker inserted. In 2004, Nicholas had a Pulmonary Valve replacement, Tricuspid Vale repair and an upgraded dual chamber pacemaker inserted. In 2005, due to a broken wire, Nicholas had a new pacemaker inserted. He will require further surgery in the future.
Donna has been an active committee member of Heart Children Auckland since 1991 and Chairperson from 1993 to 2007; an Inaugural Board Member of @Heart representing Auckland since 1994 and Chairperson 2008 to 2010 and a Trustee of Heart Children (1995) Trust since 1998. Donna has held the HR Portfolio for HCNZ Inc. since 1999. This Portfolio is responsible for the hiring and managing of the CEO and assisting with the employment of senior staff at HCNZ Inc. Donna is a Procurement Advisor at Air New Zealand Limited.
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By Appointment
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Ross Pickett
Born and educated in Wellington, now lives with his wife, Jill in Auckland and has two adult children, both living overseas. Mark is married to Kathryn and lives in Brisbane working for Rio Tinto. Kelly lives in Toledo, Ohio (USA) with her American husband, Chuck. Ross' interest in Heart Children began with a coporate sponsorship through DTZ 3 years ago and is pleased to be able to contribute further on the Board. He is Chairman of Super Liquor and a trustee of The Lion Foundation. He has had several senior management roles with Lion Nathan and, more recently, two CEO roles in the property industry. Ross love all sports - as a player in golf and tennis and a keen supportor of the Hurricanes and Warriors from sidelines!
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Central Northern:
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Sheree Dodson
Lives in Papamoa and am married to Bryan with two children, Mikaela born July 2000 and Nathan September 2004. Daughter, Mikaela was diagnosed at 5 months with an ASD and pulmonary stenosis; at 8 months she had surgery to repair the ASD and a PDA. Mikaela has an amazing outlook on life and loves to get out there and give things a go.
Sheree was part of a very enthusiastic group from the Bay that set up Heart Children Bay of Plenty (now Bay of Plenty@Heart) as an affiliated branch of @Heart, holding the Chairperson role from 2001 until March of 2005. She has been on the Board since 2005 as representative of the Central North Island. Prior to this she was involved in the Shaping our Future working party and have seen some significant growth and development of our organisation, and is very proud to be part of such and inspirational group.
She works in the banking industry and have done so since 1986.
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By Appointment:
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Graeme Mann
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Central Eastern:
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Rob Lutter
Rob is married to Maureen, who was Chairperson of Hawkes Bay@Heart for 8 years and they have 3 boys, youngest of who is Zac, their heart child. Zac was born with multiple heart defects. The major faults were L-TGA, Pulmonary Atresia. He has had multiple heart surgical procedures including Pacemaker replacements and many months in hospital, Hawkes Bay, Greenlane and now Starship through the years. At this moment he is going really well but will require ongoing surgery in the future. Rob is a Director of Bay Business Solutions, a business consulting firm which provides business planning for companies and organisations in Hawkes Bay. He also currently serves as a Napier City Councillor. What he brings to the Board are skills and passion to make a difference in shaping an organisation that provides a great service to you and your children when you need it most.
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Young Heart Adult:
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Jessamy Neilsen
Jessamy is a 28 yr old `adult heart child' with a single ventricle. She has had two open heart surgeries (at 6 yrs and 21 yrs), numerous smaller operations and in 2007 had an Internal Defribrillator `implanted. Jessamy has been appointed to the @Heart Board to represent the large and increasing number of adult heart children support by @Heart. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Social Anthropology and is currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Primary) at Massey University. Prior to studying this year, Jessamy worked fulltime for almost 3 years at Ronald McDonald House, Auckland. During this time she met and made connections with numerous heart children, heart teens and their families. Jessamy has an interest in the not-for-profit section and has spent extended periods of time training at Youthline and volunteering for Refugee Services NZ. Since she was 19 yrs old, one of the highlights of every year for her has been attending Camp Brave Hearts as a helper. In 2008 @Heart helped to support Jessamy to volunteer as a helper at two American Heart Camps - Camp del Corazon in Los Angeles and Camp Odayin in Minneapolis - she had an amazing experience!
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Heart Children New Zealand's Annual Report 2010
Our organisation operated as Heart Children New Zealand for most of 2010. Our Annual Report 2010 covers the financial year 01 December 2009 - 30 November 2010 and was presented at the AGM on 14 May 2011.
Paper copies are available on request by email to:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or mail to @Heart, PO Box 108 034, Symonds Street, Auckland 1150. |
To focus and achieve the aims of @Heart, the strategic plan has been revised based around the following areas of importance:
Click on the link to view our Strategic Plan 2010- 2013.pdf overview document (pdf 85.15KB).
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Mission
"@Heart provides life long support for all those affected by the world's most common birth defect and heart disease acquired during childhood".
Aims
The chief objective of @Heart is to provide the parent and families of children with congenital heart conditions the appropriate and timely support they need. @Heart aims to:
- reduce the suffering, stress and premature death of these children and the emotional strain on their families;
- reduce the financial burden and stress placed on families taking a child to Starship Children’s Hospital;
- encourage, develop and implement programmes for a child's rehabilitation following surgery;
- promote awareness and conduct and publish research about children with heart conditions.
- It is also responsible for the publication and distribution of the practical handbook for parents.
@Heart Values
- Heart children and their families first
- Education and empowerment
- Passionate and professional
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Camp Teen Beat 2012
Camp Teen Beat 2012 - a week of outdoor fun, learning, and social connections for heart teens aged 13 - 17 years.
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2012 Heart Kids Day Out in 19 Locations
Heart Kids Day Out is a live variety show that will guarantee to bring joy and laughter to special needs and disadvantaged children in our local community.
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