From Wayne Brewer, ROMAC Representative District 9920
ROMAC is a totally Rotary funded project offering life saving and dignity enhancing surgery for Pacific Island children that is not available to them in their home countries. ROMAC operates across all districts in Australia and New Zealand.
In Auckland the families are accommodated at Ronald McDonald House, mainly for surgery at Starship, and are hosted by local Rotary clubs who provide support and look after the family's day to day needs. Some clubs have a group of members sharing this most rewarding activity of caring for families in need. The ROMAC NZ committee offers full support and guidance.
Elizabeth Thomson from Downtown Rotary, whose report follows, has hosted a number of families and is currently looking after Ben Mahit and his mother Mayling from Vanuatu. Also in Ronald McDonald House at the moment is Jasminah and his mother Angelina. They are being hosted by Josie Adriaansen and the Rotary Club of Brown's Bay, District 9910.
Elizabeth's report:-
Little Ben Mahit arrived in New Zealand from Vanuatu with his mother Mayling on 24 July. Ben is 19 months old and was born with a hole in his heart which required surgery. He has come to New Zealand under the ROMAC programme. I joined other Rotarians at the airport to meet Ben and Mayling and took them to Ronald MacDonald House. Before they arrived I did a supermarket shop and bought some warm clothing for them.The day of the surgery was very stressful for Mayling and while we waited to hear that all had gone well we visited the museum. Ben has made a remarkable recovery and was only in hospital for three days! During his stay there I spent most of the day with them. Mayling speaks very little English and I think she was grateful of the support. Ben needs to stay in New Zealand for approximately six weeks after the surgery. He has three appointments which I will attend.
