Their next 25 years starts with you...
Over the last 25 years Kidz First Hospital’s extraordinary staff have cared for over a million extraordinary children. In this 25th winter, let’s give them and their patients some extra care.
25 years of Kidz First
A five-part NZ Herald series shares stories of courage, resilience, hope and love — of families and the healthcare teams who support them every step of the way.
Read all five stories below and meet the children, whaanau and staff who make Kidz First special.
Kiaansh
Five-year-old Kiaansh has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and uses a feeding tube. He is spending this winter with his family in a cold South Auckland garage.
Amias
Amias 5, developed bronchiectasis after years in a damp, mouldy rental. His story highlights the devastating impact poor housing can have on children's health and the support helping him through his ongoing treatment journey.
Mitioti
As a young child, after a rare disease left him fighting for his life, Mitioti underwent a life-saving bone marrow transplant. Now 37 and thriving, Mitioti reflects on his experience.
NICU under pressure
Born 12 weeks early, Kidz First’s neonatal unit is often operating at capacity, caring for some of the region’s most vulnerable babies like Wendy while demand for specialist care continues to grow.
RSV Protection
A leading paediatrician is warning that more babies could become seriously ill from RSV unless a preventative treatment is made available.
How your donation helps
Government funding covers the basics. Your donation makes everything else possible — from life-saving NICU incubators and baby warmers to toys, family rooms, Christmas celebrations and warm pyjamas for children in need.
For 25 years, Middlemore Foundation has been putting Kidz First.
Join us.
$25
Warm Jammies
Provide a sick child with warm jammies to support their recovery
$75
Toys and Books
Fund toys, books and equipment to make long term stays for children better
$150
Family Care Packs
Contribute to a comfort pack for families spending nights at their child's bedside
Meet Zeb
“When Zeb was born at Middlemore, he went straight to NICU. His oxygen levels were low, so we were quickly thrust into the world of medical monitoring.”
Zeb's Mum
Zeb’s whaanau found out he had Down Syndrome during pregnancy. While that gave them time to begin processing, nothing could fully prepare them for what came next.
Zeb has already faced several health challenges early in life, including two holes in his heart, bilateral hearing loss, and low muscle tone (hypotonia), which is common for children with Down Syndrome. He continues to receive support for his development through a range of Kidz First services.
