Brayden
He was rushed from his home in Dunedin to Middlemore Hospital where he spent three weeks in the intensive care unit until his condition stabilised.
Brayden was then transferred to the burns unit for specialist treatment before spending time in the Kidz First unit and finally to Christchurch Hospital before he returned home.
In the two years following his accident, Brayden spent more time in hospital than he did at home.
To date, he has undergone more than 20 operations and has many more ahead of him.
Despite his frequent stays in hospital, Brayden’s family has worked hard to ensure his life carried on as normal. Brayden loves playing both tackle and Rippa Rugby, drawing, building with his Lego and playing on his guitar.
Burn injury is a leading cause of injury to children in New Zealand. Every year in New Zealand, approximately 475 children under 15 years are admitted to hospital as a result of burns or scalds. 80% of these are five years or under.
For major burn injuries, treatment is still slow, painful and fraught with risk – and even successful treatment carries long-term side effects such as wound contracture. Current best practice at the National Burn Centre has reduced the mortality for a 50% burn, but successful treatment for a major burn injury still involves grueling rounds of surgery.
Other special ambassadors
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PaigePaige was born on December 6, 2021, entering the world prematurely at just 23 weeks and 4 days gestation, and weighing a tiny 525 grams
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LuccaLucca was diagnosed with an extremely rare and highly aggressive cancer called Epethelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma when she was just 16 months old.
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SophieA urine test showed glucose, and a subsequent finger prick blood test showed elevated blood glucose.
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RichieHe had a persistent cough, had lost weight and become so lethargic he was short of breath even when lying flat on a bed.
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MelaMela is diagnosed with an incredibly rare condition called Moebius syndrome
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KaseKase lives with cystic fibrosis, a condition is typically detected at birth, but Kase was diagnosed at 8.
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JeremyBorn at 29 weeks and 5 days, Jeremy is one of the approximately 700 babies born preterm each year.
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JaideJaide lives with chronic asthma and type-1 diabetes.
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JacksonJackson had a tumour the size of a tennis ball attached to his optic nerve.
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HunterHunter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after his family noticed he was always thirsty and that his moods had changed.
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FinnFinn was diagnosed with hypoplastic right heart, when his mother was 20 weeks pregnant.
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FinlayFinlay was diagnosed with type -1 diabetes at three-years-old.
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IsabellaBella was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at her Mothers 27-week anatomy scan
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EvaEva was born with only half a diaphragm after suffering a diaphragmatic hernia during fetal development.
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CorinCorin lives with a very rare genetic heart condition
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ChloeOur gorgeous little ambassador Chloe has suffered respiratory issues since she was an infant.
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BrookeAt six years old, Brooke was diagnosed with gelastic seizures.
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BraydenIn 2009, Brayden was cooking noodles when his t-shirt caught fire from the stove element. He received burns to 45 percent of his body.
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BenBenjamin was diagnosed with Spina Bifida Myelomeningocele and Hydrocephalus at his Mum Catherine’s 20-week antenatal anatomy scan.
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Amelia & GraceTwins Grace and Amelia were born prematurely at 27 weeks. They have extreme chronic lung disease and Grace had her first open heart bypass surgery at 8 weeks of age.
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AddisonAddison was diagnosed with a staph infection, which caused damage to her heart.
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Matt JohnsonMeet Matt Johnson, a former midfielder for the Blues rugby team. Matt had rheumatic fever when he was 13 and has been experiencing severe heart problems ever since.
