Silver Ferns put smile on face of netball-loving Starship patient

Netball stars Bailey Mes and Temalisi Fakahokotau with Maddie Stuart and her 2-year-old brother, Mitchel Thomson. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Teenager Maddie Stuart always loved the quickfire pace and sometimes feisty nature of netball.

So when she was told she had to give up the sport she loved because of a health condition, it was tough.

The 15-year-old from Palmerston North was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was just 6 weeks old. The genetic disorder affects a number of organs in the body and particularly the lungs.

"I played wing defence and my favourite player was Irene van Dyk," she said. "I played for a while but then I was told I couldn't keep it up, because of the cystic fibrosis. Netball's a really physical game and I had trouble with my breathing, so I had to give it up."

Yesterday, Maddie - who travels to Auckland for treatment - got a surprise when Silver Ferns Bailey Mes, Temalisi Fakahokotau and Kayla Cullen arrived at Starship children's hospital to visit some of its young patients.

The teenager said having sportspeople and celebrities visiting was something to smile about.

"It's not fun being in hospital sometimes. For me, when you have [cystic fibrosis], you have so many IV lines put through you that after a while your veins are pretty shot. It's just nice to see them here."

The netballers laughed as they played and interacted with young patients and their families.

Mes - who plays goal attack, goal shoot and wing attack - said it was a humbling experience being with patients who were going through a lot in their young lives.

"It's not something we get to do often, but it's always nice to meet kids who are doing it tough. Just seeing their smiles is a big boost."

The players were there as part of a promotion with New World, one of the Starship Foundation's five-star sponsors. The supermarket chain yesterday gave Starship a mini truck and Little Shop accessories - which have been used by clinicians as part of the hospital's Hunger Provocation Programme, which New World funds.