Opinion: Call for help from community

Valencia Davies has been hospitalised with a rare skin condition. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

There are some stories you write as a reporter that you'll never forget.

This year will be my 20th working at the Rotorua Daily Post and I've written literally hundreds, actually probably thousands, of stories.

Not all of them are memorable and not all of them reduce you to tears.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a neat woman called Eleanor Mahaki
who out of the goodness of her heart decided to put on a fundraiser for a local family having a tough time.

When I called her to find out more, the story of Valencia Davies and her frightening battle against a deadly skin condition emerged.

The 9-year-old Owhata Primary School pupil has been hospitalised after contracting SJS
(Stevens Johnson Syndrome), a painful disease usually caused by medication that attacks the skin.

Painful sores and lesions appeared over 60 per cent of her body, causing her to have trouble breathing. During the worst of it, she was vomiting and having seizures.

She spent nearly two weeks at Waikato Hospital but is now back in Rotorua Hospital as she starts a long process of recovery.

While her life is no longer at risk, there's always a risk her sores could get infected.

Her prognosis is not known but it is likely she will have long-term scarring from the horrific sores.

Mrs Mahaki is putting on a family fun day on Saturday this week to raise money for Valencia's recovery, as well as her family who are struggling financially since she was hospitalised.

Her family and Mrs Mahaki have been inundated with support from members of the public since the Rotorua Daily Post's front page story on Saturday.

It's so awesome to see the public respond like this.

There have been literally hundreds of online message from people offering their prayers, support and donations to Valencia and the family.

Hearing Valencia's mother, Ene Mikaere, talk about seeing her daughter in such pain really strikes at your heart and yes, as I jotted down my notes there were tears trickling down my cheeks.

I encourage you to get along to the family fun day at Owhata Primary School on Saturday to help fundraise for this very worthy cause.

Those wanting to donate to Valencia's Road to Recovery can make a deposit here:
https://givealittle.co.nz/donate/Cause/valenciasroad2recovery