Kase
Kase lives with cystic fibrosis, a debilitating, life threatening, incurable disease. Cystic fibrosis is typically detected by a heel prick at birth, but Kase wasn’t diagnosed until he was 8 years old.
Winters over the years were a trying time for Kase, but with the help of antibiotics, he managed to get by. It wasn’t until late 2015 when his ‘cold’ just didn’t seem to go away. Kase was even choosing to lie around the house after school instead of spending time outside kicking his rugby ball around.
After trying many different things, including numerous visits to the doctor, finally a senior doctor in the hospital reviewed Kase’s notes and he was admitted.
Once admitted, they started bloods and sent Kase off for a sweat test. Two days later he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis.
Kase has to have a constant medical regime to keep him healthy, including PEP (positive expiratory pressure) – morning and night with hypertonic solution and sometimes antibiotics if needed. He has a high fat, salt and sugar diet to keep him strong to fight bugs.
Kase lives in Palmerston North with his Mum, Dad and two sisters and loves to race his stockcar.
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.
