Rose* had struggled with severe back pain and anguish since she was 13 years old. After being turned down for life-changing breast reduction surgery, the 25-year-old felt she was out of options. But her life took an unexpected turn when a Tokoroa-based community agency connected her with Braemar Charitable Trust. Eight months later, Rose’s surgery was fast-tracked for free.
Rose’s everyday life was dominated by back pain, difficulty breathing and sleeping, and having to wear a special bra to cope with the weight of her breasts.
She persisted, taking part in life even when it became uncomfortable, physically and emotionally.
“As a teenager, I performed Pacific dance which required wearing a costume. I was this small 15-year-old girl on stage with women in their thirties and forties and I was the one with the biggest breasts. The attention I got wasn’t positive from men, or women,” Rose says.
“It’s hard when people say they want what you have, when you don't want what you've got.”
Rose describes her physical struggle throughout her teens and twenties as a “really heavy, heavy, emotional time and a struggle in so many ways”.
“Clothes designed to fit an ordinary woman my size were like crop tops or baby tees on me. I often resorted to a man’s 2XL to find something to accommodate my J-cup size chest.”
It was a visit to her aunt in Australia that started Rose’s journey to reduce her breast size to a new normal. After hearing about her aunt’s life-changing breast reduction operation, she sought medical help when she returned home.
“I was denied surgery through the public health system, because my case risk was not high enough, and the option they gave was to wait two years and try again. I ended up at a crossroads.”
A second attempt saw her facing a two-year waiting list.
“I shared my concerns with family, and it got back to a local community organisation. Paula Baker from Braemar Charitable Trust had met with them to discuss surgeries that could be funded in our Tokoroa community.”
Braemar Charitable Trust Manager, Paula Baker is on a mission to share the good work the Trust does to turn around health outcomes and raise equity across communities in the greater Waikato. As the shareholder of Braemar Hospital, the Trust turns profits and donations into free surgeries with the help of many of the 200 specialists and anaesthetists who give their time for free.
To offer free surgery to those who face extensive wait times in the public system and have no means to pay for private treatment, every case is evaluated on our criteria,” says Paula. “ We consider individual needs, underlying health conditions and people with no ACC or health insurance.”
Rose’s breast reduction surgery was added to the wish list. Feeling like there was nothing to lose and with encouragement from her community, she agreed to submit a referral letter to the Trust in November 2023.
Not holding out much hope, Rose and her husband took a break to celebrate their first wedding anniversary in early 2024 and returned home to good news.
“I had a consultation appointment in March, in June my surgery was approved and I had a month to prepare. I was nervous but I couldn’t wait.”
After the surgery, Rose immediately felt relief.
“I felt the missing weight. They took three kgs off my chest! Now I have more confidence in myself and who I am, and I am profoundly grateful to everyone who played an intrinsic part in getting me to where I am now.”
When asked what her advice is for others on surgical waitlists, Rose says, “Find out what help is out there and advocate for yourself. If you get an opportunity to fill out a referral, share everything because you never know what part of your story will be the factor that could help a decision to help you”.
“My case was just a piece of paper on a table, and they read it, and they read about me and made a life-changing decision.”
*Rose’s full name is withheld at her request.
