Category Archives: HEALTH

ECONOMICS, HEALTH

Q&A | Victoria Hearn: Lifewise want to end youth homelessness in Auckland

Once a year, Lifewise invites business and community leaders to participate in the Big Sleepout, a fundraiser evening to raise awareness of the vital social services they provide in Auckland, New Zealand. The event always draws some amazing participants, who ‘sleep rough’ for the night to raise funds and awareness for the organisation. The donations are critical to helping Lifewise tackle issues like homelessness, as they receive no government funding.

The 2017 Big Sleepout takes place on July 6. Funds raised will go towards ending youth homelessness, which is a huge issue in New Zealand. Victoria Hearn leads the Service Design and Development of Lifewise’s Youth Housing service, and explains more about why the event is so necessary to Sarah.

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HEALTH, PERSONAL

Q&A | Nicki Roest: I almost died from Wilson’s disease

Nicki Roest was diagnosed with Wilson’s disease, a rare and life-threatening liver condition, in 2016 and went on to have the year from hell. Having first experienced symptoms in 2014 while living in New Zealand, where she’s from, doctors concluded Nicki had “a viral thing” or fatty liver. Things seemed to level out, and she and her husband Tim continued with their plans to move to the UK. Two years later, by which point they were living in London, Nicki’s symptoms started presenting again.

After a number of appointments with doctors who seemed largely unconcerned – despite some test results she now knows should have raised red flags – Nicki finally went to A&E. She was immediately admitted to hospital, and things escalated quickly from there. She shares her story with Sarah. Continue →