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Stars visit Dialysis Clinic
Rugby legend Michael Jones, and decorated military hero Tana Fatu visited the renal clinic at Wellington Hospital recently. The two, each a hero in their own way, brought messages of hope to dialysis patients who are fighting their own heroic battles.
Pictured above: from left - Michael Jones, Tana Fatu and renal patient Jo.
Michael Jones (pictured above, meeting kidney patient Reg) is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest All Blacks of all time, playing 55 tests in the black jersey and scoring 13 test tries. In 2003 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame. His sincerity, charisma and the depth of his convictions have seen Michael Jones remain a greatly admired household name to this day.
Private Tana (Jonathon) Fatu (above, with renal patient Bob) is not a household name - but in many ways he exemplifies the archetype of an unassuming kiwi hero. In 2007 Tana Fatu received the Distinguished Service Decoration for the bravery he displayed in saving the lives of two fellow soldiers after a mishap during a live firing exercise at Waiouru. He has also served the New Zealand Army in Afghanistan. Recently, he set off on a 400km fundraising walk from Porirua to Palmerston North and back, organised by the Kidney Patient Network.
“Support and fundraising by high calibre and high-profile people like Michael and Tana means a great deal to everyone involved in the care of kidney patients,” says Dr Grant Pidgeon, the Clinical Leader of Renal Services for C&C DHB (pictured above, left, with Michael Jones).
“A hospital can meet the main health needs of these patients. But there are other social and lifestyle needs which benefit greatly from the fundraising done by organisations such as Kidney Patient Network,” Dr Pidgeon says.