People have no idea, says Kate Le Papillon how a small operation can make such a big difference to a person’s life. Having free surgery through Braemar Charitable Trust has meant Kate can live without excruciating pain.
Some people do less when in pain, but not Kate Le Papillon. Best described as a pocket rocket, Kate cares for her partner, a tetraplegic, supports her ageing mother, competes in Taekwondo tournaments and operates a garden maintenance business from her home in Kirikiriroa Hamilton.
“I had been to various doctors on and off for years, to try and be accepted into Waikato Hospital for vascular surgery because the pain in my leg was terrible. My leg was swollen, my veins were pretty much popping out, and driving anywhere was a nightmare.”
Caring for her partner, who is paralysed from the chest down, had become physically hard for Kate.
When the pain had become unbearable and she could not sleep, Dr Bala Newton at Hamilton East Medical Centre offered to refer Kate for funded surgery through Braemar Charitable Trust.
“He said “I'm going to put your name forward because you can't go on like this”, I was shocked and said, “There is a charitable trust?” I had no idea I could get help to go private.”
Prior to this, Kate recalls the response from others to her situation had been “It's only varicose veins. You'll be fine. It's only surface. It's only ugly. You'll be okay”.
But this doctor did understand.
“He really, actually, genuinely cares deeply for all his patients.”
Dr Newton says Kate is an amazing person who puts others before her, including her partner, who would become unwell if Kate was unable to care for her.
“Our role is the to find what we can do to fix medical problems, but often there is also a social problem. That’s my job, to help keep people like Kate well,” he says.
“Finding the right help for people is important and Kate was the right candidate to be referred to Braemar Charitable Trust, who are doing wonderful work to help keep our community well.”
Kate went back to her busy, active life and got a pleasant surprise when the Trust approved her surgery. She was referred to Chris Holdaway, a vascular surgeon at Braemar Hospital, one of the many credentialled specialists donating their time to help people referred through Braemar Charitable Trust.
“Which was great,” says Kate, “because I worked with Chris when I was as an anaesthetic technician at Waikato Hospital, so I also knew what I was in for".
“He took one look and said, we can fix it. After that I counted down every single day, for six weeks until I got my surgery.
“It’s hard to imagine how debilitating something as simple as a varicose vein condition can be.”
Three months later, Kate’s scars remain her “cool little story to tell. This is my adventure I went on through Braemar Charitable Trust,” she says.
“This is amazing. When I got into our van to drive it, I sat down and I thought wow, it's not going to hurt me to drive to the other side of town now. That was so cool. I can care for my partner better. It was also impeding my Taekwondo. I'd go home after training with an even sorer leg, and now you wouldn't even know.”
Kate holds a third gup in Taekwondo and loves to compete.
“Taekwondo is going to be so much more fun without the pain,” says Kate. “I love sparring and breaking boards. Now I can kick extra high, extra hard - as short as I am and as small as I am.”
Kate’s advice to others is, “Don’t give up hope. Just keep on keeping on. Find out if your doctor can refer you to Braemar Charitable Trust. If you have to wait a few more months, it’s a short time in the grand scheme of all the years you've waited so far. You become a whole new person”.
Braemar Charitable Trust owns Braemar Hospital, one of New Zealand's largest private hospitals. More than 200 specialists are credentialled to work at Braemar, many of whom are involved in providing free community surgeries via the Trust.
To support better health equity and improve health outcomes for Waikato people, the Trust supports a range of surgeries and dental procedures, research, education and health-related initiatives.
The Trust receives dividends from Braemar Hospital, our main asset and is also supported by donations from organisations and individuals. Find out how you can help.
