The Christmas gift of freedom for Heart Kids on Warfarin

17 December 2014

The Christmas gift of freedom for Heart Kids on Warfarin

The NZ Toy Distributors Association recently made a significant donation of 20 CoaguChek kits to the Paediatric Cardiology ward (ward 23b) at Starship Hospital, through their new partnership with Heart Kids New Zealand.

This generous donation will benefit children with congenital and childhood-acquired heart defects. CoaguChek devices are used to monitor heart kids who have to take a daily dose of Warfarin to help their hearts, and regular monitoring of the dose levels to prevent bleeding and complications is needed.

“We are delighted to have this supply of INR testing machines. Home testing of INR’s means families do not need to attend the lab for tests, and are therefore able to fit the testing into their everyday lives,” said Dawn Tucker, Charge Nurse Manager.

“The NZ Toy Distributors Association (NZTDA) is pleased to assist Heart Kids NZ and Ward 23b at Starship by providing a year’s supply of 20 kits for the kids. We chose to support Heart Kids NZ as we know it’s directly benefiting the children and families throughout NZ who need this equipment,” said NZTDA’s charity spokesperson Chris Stephens.

“This is great news for our Heart Kids who need the kits. Generally these Heart Kids are the most in need, but we need to source funding for this important equipment. Through this kind donation from the NZTDA, the necessary regular testing can now be done at home by the families.” CEO of Heart Kids Rob Lutter said.

Heart Kids New Zealand is so pleased to be working with the NZTDA, and this generous donation will make all the difference to the children and families who need this specialised equipment.

About Heart Kids New Zealand
Heart Kids NZ is the only organisation in New Zealand dedicated to providing lifelong support for all those affected by childhood heart conditions.

Started in 1980 by two heart mums due to a need for parental information and support, the network continued to grow and formalised itself as Heart Children Incorporated in 1984 and subsequently changed its name to Heart Children New Zealand Incorporated.

With an increasing number of adults surviving childhood heart conditions, the organisation has responded by extending its support to heart children throughout their lives, not just in their younger years.

Heart Kids NZ (www.heartnz.org.nz) now stretches across the nation providing kids, teens, adults and families affected by childhood heart conditions with free access to its 50+ services. The charity is a non-government organisation and is not affiliated with the Heart Foundation. Charity Registration CC20102.

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartkidsnz

About NZTDA
The NZTDA is an association of Toy Distributors in New Zealand who have used profits from their Trade Fairs to create a charity pool. Each year charities are assessed. NZTA has in the past fitted out Wilson Home with heat pumps, provided a support vehicle and staff funding for Kidney Kids and annually provides the toys for the Child Cancer Xmas Party. “We try to find charities that help children throughout the country”.

ENDS

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