A Journey of Gratitude

On January 2nd 2024, 8 year old Ella and her family were enjoying a camping trip at Kai Iwi Lakes, a popular holiday spot in Northland when an unexpected accident turned their holiday into horror.

As their boat docked in shallow water, Ella’s dad, Braydon stepped out onto uneven ground in the water and snapped both his tibia and fibula. Unable to walk he was brought to shore by paddleboard and an ambulance was called. Due to the distance from the lakes to a hospital an Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched, and Braydon was airlifted to North Shore Hospital where he underwent six hours of surgery to fix the breakages, resulting in a steel rod being inserted in his leg.

Ella decided to show her gratitude to the crew who came to her dad’s aid. She approached her mum with an idea to run the 5km Auckland Marathon to raise money for “the people who helped dad”. Together, Ella and her mum Lisa completed the run in a speedy 27 minutes raising an incredible $580 for Auckland Rescue. After months of recovery and ongoing physiotherapy, Braydon is currently making great progress.

We are inspired by Ella’s kindness and generosity, and we wish Braydon a full recovery as he continues his journey to healing.

Thank you, Ella, for reminding us of the power of giving back, we really appreciate it!

‍

‍