Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Hell Pizza programme gives sick Waikato girl a Hell of a day out

Waikato Herald
9 Feb, 2022 12:24 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Jackie Mead and her family went on a wildlife adventure with Dolphin Seafaris in Tauranga. Photo / Supplied

Jackie Mead and her family went on a wildlife adventure with Dolphin Seafaris in Tauranga. Photo / Supplied

Waikato girl Jackie Mead had a horrific start to her life after being born with a rare liver condition called biliary atresia and suffering a stroke and brain haemorrhage after an operation went wrong, destroying 63 per cent of her brain capacity.

Additionally, she was given Hepatitis B-infected donor liver meaning she is now blind in her right eye and going blind in her left, and suffers from a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Her mother Susan says: "My child was never supposed to walk or talk. Now she's turning into the most amazing young adult. She goes to school every day she's able and has an empathy for other people that makes me strive to be a better person."

Susan and Jackie's dad Mario Moon gave up their jobs to support her and keep the family unit together. Thanks to their love, belief and dedication Jackie now has full speech and mobility.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"When we brought her home from the hospital, we decided we wanted to give her the best life and that meant we'd give up our jobs and our dreams to make that happen. It has made us better people."

When Hell Pizza programme Satan's Little Helper found out about Jackie, they say they had to do something to put a smile on her face and sent her and her family on a wildlife adventure with Dolphin Seafaris in Tauranga.

Susan says she hasn't seen Jackie look that happy for a long time. "When we got on the boat, she rushed to the front, which was brilliant to see, because she's normally a bit more reserved. She had her 'happy place' smile and to see that was absolutely perfect. It was a really special moment.

"As we left the harbour, we saw some orcas and then a pod of dolphins swam up so close to us you could almost touch them. It was so precious, I've never seen dolphins that close up before."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Christmas can be a tough time for the family as Susan lost her mother and father in December two years ago.

"We just needed to smile. We're all so happy and thankful ... Jackie told me she was happy she's sick because it meant she could have a day out with dolphins. I don't often sit here with tears of joy and gratefulness in my eyes but now I do, because [Hell] created memories that are going to last forever."

Discover more

Selfless brother makes the most of special day out

29 Aug 10:42 PM

No stopping for Cancer Society annual fundraiser

20 Jan 06:25 PM

Charity helps homeless restore their mana

27 Jan 06:20 PM
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Sport

Magic prepare for clash against Tactix in Christchurch

07 Jul 01:31 AM
Waikato Herald

'Serious' condition: Two hospitalised in Waikato crash

06 Jul 11:10 PM
Waikato Herald

Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

06 Jul 06:00 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

Magic prepare for clash against Tactix in Christchurch

Magic prepare for clash against Tactix in Christchurch

07 Jul 01:31 AM

There are four games remaining in the 2025 ANZ Premiership season.

'Serious' condition: Two hospitalised in Waikato crash
Waikato Herald

'Serious' condition: Two hospitalised in Waikato crash

06 Jul 11:10 PM
Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage
Waikato Herald

Caught on tape: Identity finally revealed of Jaguar-driving teen behind CBD rampage

06 Jul 06:00 AM
NZ actress accuses Australian policeman of using CCTV to spy on her
Waikato Herald

NZ actress accuses Australian policeman of using CCTV to spy on her

06 Jul 12:48 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP