For the first time in years, seven-year-old Hamilton boy Elijah could enjoy his summer holidays without pain or medication, embracing the chance to simply be a child.
Elijah and his mother Natalie Brickland had been navigating his health struggles for the past two years when his doctor informed them that he would need a stomach procedure. “My husband and I expected the surgery to be next year, so we prepared to manage until then,” says Natalie. “But that changed when we received an unexpected phone call for the procedure at Braemar in November. We were shocked and amazed.”
Elijah was one of many children who had free procedures at Braemar Hospital, thanks to Braemar Charitable Trust’s two Community Surgery Days in November 2024.
Braemar Charitable Trust is the owner of Hamilton’s Braemar Hospital, one of New Zealand’s largest private hospitals. The Trust’s vision is to advance healthcare equity and access, and it undertakes a variety of charitable activities to achieve this including free community surgeries, scholarships, health training and funding medical research.
Its wide range of free community surgeries are delivered by surgeons and anaesthetists who are credentialed to work at Braemar Hospital and want to donate their time. The Trust pays for other costs including nursing and consumables. More than 70 people had day surgeries or procedures across two Saturdays in November 2024 as part of the Community Surgery Days.
Since 1 April 2024, a total of 118 people have had free surgeries and procedures as part of the Trust’s programme designed to help improve health outcomes.
Natalie describes the Braemar Charitable Trust Community Surgery Day as a “day of gifting”.
“To see what you did that day was nothing short of a miracle. Everyone contributed with such kindness. I didn’t have to fight or advocate like I normally would; the staff truly listened and were prepared, which allowed me to relax and trust they had everything under control,” Natalie says.
Since Elijah’s paediatric surgery procedure, the whole family's quality of life has dramatically improved. “For the first time in years, he’s sleeping through the night without waking up in pain,” Natalie says. “It’s made a huge difference for the whole family—we’re not as tired, and Elijah is just so much happier.”
The procedure didn’t just restore Elijah’s health—it gave him his childhood back. “We can now take him to the beach, which he loves. Last year, the cold water shocked his bladder, and he was screaming in pain. Recently, he spent hours at the beach without any issues. He loved it so much that we had to drag him away!".
One of the most heartwarming moments was when Elijah proudly took the Braemar Hospital bear he received on the day to school. “He took it to show-and-tell, dressed in scrubs, and told everyone about his surgeon bear and how much better he feels now,” says Natalie.
Natalie’s gratitude extends to the donors and volunteers who made Elijah’s surgery possible. “You’re not just gifting surgeries; you’re giving people hope and a second chance at living pain-free,” she says. “For families like ours, this has been the gift of a brighter, pain-free future.”
“It showed how our country can come together to help each other. Everyone volunteering that day made me feel a sense of equality—no one was judged based on age, income, or health issues.”
Braemar Charitable Trust Manager Paula Baker says the two Community Surgery Days in November were an outstanding success for the patients who were helped. The Trust has been in existence for more than 50 years and has a long history of providing free surgeries for those who have been turned down or can’t access timely help through the public system.
“The success of this programme is due to the surgeons and anaesthetists who give their time pro-bono, and also to the many other volunteers who give their time to help.” In Elijah’s case, he was helped by specialist Jitoko Cama and anaesthetist David Rusk.
Funders for the November Community Surgery Days included the Glenice and John Gallagher Foundation and the ANZ Staff Foundation. Aside from the surgeons and anaesthetists who donated their time on the two days, dozens of Braemar Hospital clinical and professional staff and supporters of Braemar Charitable Trust volunteered their time.
Braemar Charitable Trust has also made it simple for anyone to donate to its work via a new online donations portal. Donors can pay for a specific surgical procedure as part of the Trust’s Community Surgery Programme, or make donations towards scholarships, research or a general fund. To find out how Click here
Get occasional news and updates from Braemar Hospital and Braemar Charitable Trust Sign Sign up here
