MARCH 2010 Riley Pollard: back from a silent world Riley recovers in ICU. Riley Pollard has had more challenges to face than any child of two should have but, with the support of her mum and dad, Rachel and Aaron, and her two big brothers, Morgan and Austin, and their local community, she is meeting them head on. The family’s incredible story begins at the end of July/beginning of August 2009, when Riley developed what seemed to be a tummy bug. She languished at home for a few days, just wanting to lie on the couch and watch TV. She had a sore neck, but it didn’t seem severe and there were no other outward signs that would suggest she was in serious trouble. And if it wasn’t a tummy bug it was probably the swine flu, which was laying people low at the time. After a couple of days and no improvement, however, Rachel decided it was time she took Riley to the doctor. He took one look at her and sent her straight to hospital. There were tests, tests, and more tests, and eventually Rachel and Aaron were told that the horrifying diagnosis was meningitis. Bacterial meningitis; Haemophilus influenzae, Type F, an uncommon, virulent bacterial strain. No parent would want to watch their child go through what Rachel and Aaron watched Riley go through for the next two weeks or so. She lay pale and still, her eyes closed, or nearly so. She needed intensive medical and nursing care, and an intravenous tube inserted into a vein in her arm facilitated hydration and channeled into her body the antibiotics that would fight the bugs and save her life. That Riley got better was little short of a miracle and, after two weeks, she was sometimes, she ‘talked’ but made no untoward, so it was a huge surprise, and allowed to go home. She appeared to have sounds. Apart from gaining some minor devastating, when Riley failed the whole had a bit of a personality change, but she eccentricities, she seemed to have escaped battery. Against the odds, she had had just turned two, and isn’t that when unscathed. become profoundly deaf in not one, but kids turn terrible? It did seem a little strange Meningitis can cause deafness, so Rachel in both ears. The infection had damaged that having always been a light sleeper, and Aaron took Riley for a routine hearing Riley now slept heavily, and that, test. They didn’t expect anything (Continued on page 2) OKATO 1 cover story editorial FROM THE TOM ZONE Just the other day an out-of- towner mentioned to me how vibrant Okato seems these days and I was stoked to think that people are noticing the lifeforce of Okato. And the events happening in the community bear this out — Warea Rock, Vintage Hay Day, etc. That got me thinking about what a lifeforce is, and in Okato it certainly isn’t buildings like the derelict primary school site or other similar ones so it has to be the people. But what about the people Riley plays, unconcerned by her bionic ears. makes a community full of life? Active people is the the hair cells in both of Riley’s cochlea, so that sound waves would answer that comes to mind. Not people who are no longer make them move and, in turn, stimulate the nerve running around, but people who are actively engaged impulses that the brain translates as sound. in their community and know what is happening in the So it was off to Christchurch to meet the cochlear implant team. community. And community can mean a group of Assessment showed that Riley was a good candidate. Occasionally people active in pony club or active in business or active implants are unsuccessful, so it was agreed that she would have in philanthropy, and doesn’t Okato have all these? one for each ear. All up, it would cost $50,000. The Government Kim would fund the internal components for both ears, and the external editorial components, including the processor (computer) for one. Rachel and Aaron would have to find $10,200 for the other processor. It was a big ask. “However,” enthused Rachel, “we are lucky enough to live in Taranaki, in an incredibly supportive TOM dates for community.” Okato Lions Club have taken up the cause. Recently, April issue they hosted the biennial Taranaki Vintage Hay Day to raise funds and they have pledged more fundraising for next year. Copy and ads The wait for surgery was a long six weeks: Rachel says that the deadline – prospect of handing your baby to a surgeon who is going to drill 26 March holes in her head for four or five hours is pretty scary. But hand her over she did. During the ensuing operation, an electronic Distribution – device that provides Riley with a sense of sound was implanted. 13 April Often referred to as a bionic ear, the device is a small but complex arrangement. An external hearing aid-like processor receives sound, converts it into an electronic signal and feeds it to a ‘coil’ that transmits to a receiver underneath the scalp. The coil is removable and holds onto the receiver by means of a magnet. The hair cells in the cochlea are replaced by 22 electrodes, which TOM-OKATO is a free, monthly stimulate the cochlear nerves directly using electrical impulses. publication, delivered on the The brain then translates these impulses into sound. “It’s second Wednesday of the month extraordinary technology,” says Rachel. to all homes and post-boxes from Once the surgery was over, Riley made a good recovery and, on OKATO Timaru Road to Bayly Road. January 12, she was ‘switched on’. Ever since then it has been backwards and forwards to Christchurch, initially fortnightly and THE TEAM now at six-weekly intervals for tuning and checking, and for Co-ordinator/Features:Kim Ferens 06 751 1519 speech therapy sessions. Riley makes simple sounds now — animal [email protected] noises, at about the level of a nine-month-old child. They’re basic, Advertising: Cyril Henderson 06 753 6885 but encouraging. She used to talk really well before her illness [email protected] and Rachel trusts that Riley will catch up quickly and talk really Writers: Milly Carr 06 752 4425 Kerry Lilley 06 752 4350 Proof Reader: Maryanne Rossiter Bennett Graphics: Ron Stratford [email protected] The TOM Group Ltd, 22 Sutton Rd, R D 2, New Plymouth. email [email protected] Phone 0800 THE TOM www.thetom.co.nz Points of view expressed in contributed articles are not necessarily the views of TOM 2 OKATO well again. And as for her general, ongoing development? “With the way she’s wired, it’s unreasonable to expect her to develop entirely normally,” says Rachel. “But she wants to do stuff and she’s a Playcentre child through and through, so while lots else has gone haywire, that’s been consistent. And her lovely little personality is still there,” she adds fondly, “she just can’t express it the way she used to.” Rachel and Aaron are immensely grateful for the community support they have received — for the Playcentre families who have been there for them, for the Lions Club and everybody who has supported their fundraising efforts, and for the people who have taken care of Morgan and Austin when needed. “They’ve been cool,” says Rachel. Story by Kerry Lilley Pictures supplied by Rachel Douglas and Aaron Pollard Riley enjoys riding her two- wheeler (with trainers, of course). Come and see our friendly staff for all your grocery needs. Fresh fruit and vege Beer and wine Food to go! at Okato 7 days a week Mon - Fri 6.45am - 7pm, Sat 7.30am - 7pm, Sun 8.00am - 7pm Ph 752 4014 OKATO 3 Merv and Iris Putt: a vintage couple Local identities, Merv and Iris Putt, have been married for 60 years. Fittingly enough, I came across them at the recent Vintage Hay Day, where we sat on hay bales, in the shade, to chat. Back in the late forties, Merv told me, the Young People’s Club used to hold regular dances in the Hempton Hall. The Leith Road factory manager’s daughter, Eileen Kettlewell, was very friendly with a girl from Huirangi called Iris Topless, and whenever a Left: Iris and dance was to be held, Eileen would invite Iris out. Merv asked Merv on their Iris to dance and eventually, asked her to marry him. wedding day The wedding was held in St Mary’s Church in New Plymouth and below: on 4 February, 1950 and the Reverend J T Holland, who later enjoying the Vintage Hay became a bishop, officiated. The couple had four children, Day. Glenys, Graeme, Carole and Wayne, and nine grandchildren, eight of whom are grandsons. I asked Iris and Merv whether they had any secrets to their long and happy marriage. “In a word,” Merv replied, “it’s commitment.” “And,” added Iris, “doing things together, keeping busy and keeping involved, with your kids and your grandkids.” In January, their whole family joined them in Hastings to celebrate their 60 years together over dinner, so on their actual anniversary, Merv and Iris thought they’d have a quiet day at home. As it turned out, they were flooded with visitors and phone calls, and their house was transformed into a veritable florist shop. But the celebrations aren’t over yet. The entire wedding party is planning to meet for lunch.