From heart mum to heart volunteer

Published: 30 October 2024

Christine, a North Canterbury resident and mother of Sarah, a "heart child" born with complex congenital heart conditions, has spent her life supporting heart health initiatives.

After navigating the emotional and medical challenges of raising a child with serious heart issues, Christine became a dedicated volunteer for the Heart Foundation, determined to help other families. 

"It’s been an incredible journey for our whole family," she reflects. "We have been a close family team, and although she is definitely a “Daddy’s girl”, working together to support Sarah, we have come through stronger, more caring and more aware.  However, these are hardships I wouldn’t wish on anyone." 

Christine’s experience with her daughter, Sarah, has inspired her to contribute to heart research and support families facing similar struggles.

In 1980, Christine gave birth to Sarah in Whakatane. Sarah was born with a series of complex heart issues. The severity of Sarah’s condition wasn't immediately apparent, but the outlook was not good.

“The doctors told us they could not correct her major heart defects but would perform palliative procedures to prolong her short life,” Christine recalls. Sarah’s early years were challenging, as she struggled to eat anything and didn’t sleep through the night. 

"She was so tiny for so long," Christine says, remembering the anxiety that accompanied every moment. When Sarah turned five, she underwent a major heart surgery that helped her survive, a relatively new procedure then, called a ‘Fontan’.

Despite these hardships, Sarah grew into a remarkable young woman. Christine beams with pride as she shares Sarah’s achievements. 

"She became a qualified early childhood teacher and married Rob, and they have been together for more than 20 years. She's lived a life full of joy, travel, and adventure despite all the obstacles." 

However, Sarah’s health challenges persisted. She underwent numerous procedures and when she was 16, Sarah had another major operation on her heart. In her 30s, she developed a brain abscess, which led to six weeks in an ICU in Sydney, where doctors prepared her family for the worst. 

"They told us she wouldn’t make it," Christine remembers. "We even had her funeral planned." But Sarah is a fighter, and she very slowly started to recover. After months of hospitalisation, she returned to New Zealand, where she continued to surprise everyone with her resilience and will to live.

As Sarah regained her strength, she moved temporarily to North Canterbury to live with her parents and resume her work as a preschool teacher. 

"She wasn’t supposed to work again, but she volunteered while she was recovering, just a few hours a week at first, and soon enough, she was offered a permanent job. That’s who Sarah is—strong, determined and a survivor."  

Sarah lives in Blenheim with husband Rob and Lexi, their golden retriever.  She is working, driving and lives each day to the full as she is under the amazing cardiac team in Christchurch.

Christine’s connection to the Heart Foundation goes back to Sarah’s early days at Green Lane Hospital in Auckland, where she met two other mothers facing similar circumstances. 

"Back then, there was no support system for kids with heart issues," Christine explains. "So, we published the first practical handbook for parents and heart children.” 

This was  the beginning of Christine’s lifelong commitment to heart health causes. For the last four years, Christine has been actively volunteering with the Heart Foundation, serving as the area coordinator in Hanmer Springs. 

In her small community, she knows just about everyone, and volunteering has been a natural extension of her passion for helping others. 

"It’s such an easy task here," she says. "People are incredibly empathetic toward the Heart Foundation. Nearly everyone knows someone affected by heart disease, so when they see the logo, they don’t need any explanation—they just give."

What Christine loves most about volunteering is the sense of satisfaction that comes with supporting something she truly believes in.

"Volunteering allows me to continue to be involved with heart research, which is so important, and I believe we can continue to make strides with the right support and research."

When asked about heart disease in her family, Christine shares that her daughter’s condition wasn’t genetic. 

"The chief cardiologist at Green Lane said it was just a hit of the hammer—bad luck, not genetic. It’s something we didn’t expect." 

Despite the challenges, Christine has used her experiences to help others. For many years she has supported young parents or caregivers who are just starting their journeys with heart disease, offering guidance and a listening ear.

"It’s about giving back and helping families who are going through the same things we did. It’s not easy, but it’s important."