Heart Kids: A Lifeline Through Luke’s Fight

Written By Kim Manunui

A routine scan turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.

"At our 20-week scan, we expected to hear all was well, but instead learned our baby had a heart condition. The shock was overwhelming. We didn’t know if we’d bring our baby home, as his condition couldn’t be confirmed until birth.

At two days old, under a CT scan, Luke was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot with Pulmonary Atresia and MAPCAs. Being far from home in the NICU, without our older daughter, was hard. Once home, Luke remained on oxygen and feeding tubes. One morning, I noticed his oxygen dropping, and we rushed to Southland Hospital. Soon after, Starship was on their way to get him.

Upon arrival at Starship, Luke was intubated, and tests began. The next day, we were told he had 12 hours to live. Our options were heart-breaking: say goodbye or attempt surgery, knowing his odds were slim. We chose surgery.

After a tense wait, we learned Luke had survived. A shunt was created to help blood flow, but the fight wasn’t over—he needed to survive the night. Luke defied expectations, making it through that night, then the next, and continuing to beat the odds. Bringing him home after that journey was a moment of pure joy.

Luke has since undergone three more open-heart surgeries, five cardiac catheters, and countless procedures. Throughout this journey, Heart Kids NZ has been a constant support, both at Starship and in our community. We are incredibly grateful.

- Hannah Drummond, Luke’s mum

 
Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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