Auckland Hospital Foundation

🕊️ To mark Wills Week, yesterday we shared Jan's powerful legacy; today we share how Tess's family chose to give back. 🤍

Tess received a kidney transplant at Auckland City Hospital in 2002, a gift from her oldest brother Graham, giving her 22 more years of life, love, adventure, and family.

When Tess passed away in 2024, her husband Michael and twin sister Angela wanted to honour her memory by helping others.

Michael made a donation in Tess's name to the Renal team that cared for her for over two decades.

The gift is already funding research to improve access to kidney transplantation – the same treatment that changed Tess's life.

"The care Tess received was fantastic. The team is under incredible pressure, but they do such great work. When I realised I could direct my gift to a specific department and projects, I thought, 'why not do that?'

"I know Tess would be happy that she is still making a difference for others after all she gave to us in her beautiful life." – Michael

Read Tess's story 👉 https://ahf.org.nz/touching-tribute-to-theresa-a-gift-to-help-others

Your will is a powerful tool. This Public Trust Wills Week is the perfect time to create or update yours, including a charitable gift, if it feels right. Your will ensures your legacy wishes are met and that you continue supporting the people and causes you care about, even after you're gone.

If you're considering leaving a charitable gift in your will, talk to your solicitor or a trusted estate planning service like Public Trust to ensure your wishes are clearly expressed and legally secure.

Need help with wording or want to learn more about legacy gifts? Visit our Leave a Legacy webpage 👇
https://buff.ly/42xlER8

🗞️ June's Hospital Highlights are here – remembering a rare gem, celebrating our volunteers' generosity, and raising awareness that matters. ✨
https://shorturl.at/PcahR

Inside this month's wrap-up:

💛 Jan's legacy: a much-loved nurse in Auckland City Hospital's ED, Jan faced her own health challenges with bravery and gratitude. Jan's family has made a generous donation in her memory, helping future patients get the best possible care.

💛 An important Men's Health Week reminder: Alan has always trusted his intuition and followed his gut if something hasn’t felt right, which led him to 25+ years of life-saving care at Auckland City Hospital.

💛 Our volunteers' immeasurable value: from therapy dogs bringing comfort, to the 300+ people who give their time, skills and hearts to our patients and their families every day.

Dive into the highlights now!

🔗 https://shorturl.at/PcahR

📬 Sign up for future highlights: ahf.org.nz/newsletter-sign-up

Before becoming a much-loved nurse in Auckland City Hospital's Emergency Department, Jan Cowan was no stranger to the hospital. From a broken leg and knee injuries to being saved after a terrible car accident on Christmas Day 1998, Jan had come through our ED many times as a patient.

Her dad, Rod Gavin, says it was that wonderful care that crystallised her career choice. She wanted to be part of such a team.

"Jan absolutely loved her work in the ED, and she became a charge nurse around 2018. But when she was diagnosed with the lung condition pulmonary hypertension, she knew her biggest challenge lay ahead. A lung transplant was her only eventual option."

No stone was left unturned in trying to save Jan, but sadly, things turned for the worse when an infection had the last say.

"Jan was very accepting of her lot, and was at pains to point out that she'd enjoyed a wonderful life, a fantastic family, and the best job in the world. She was very proud of 'her' hospital. It was this pride, and the wonderful care the hospital gave her, that led us to make the donation in her name."

In her memory, the family's generous $30,000 gift has funded new equipment for the ward and rehabilitation gym, which wouldn't otherwise have been possible.

Lung Transplant Physician Dr Chris Lewis said, "Jan was a popular figure at the hospital, and a cherished colleague to many. Thanks to her family, we've been able to get a transcutaneous monitoring machine for patients who need continuous ventilation, plus new gym equipment to support rehabilitation."

Read Jan's story here: https://ahf.org.nz/jans-story

This week is Men's Health Week and we want to share the story of Alan – a patient who has trusted Auckland City Hospital with his care for over 25 years.

Now in his 80s, Alan navigated cancer in his 50s, a heart attack in his early 70s, and he's been treated for glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration since his mid-70s. Through every diagnosis and every recovery, the teams at Auckland City Hospital have seen him through it all.

What is Alan's secret to overcoming so much? Alan believes you have to look after your own health and take responsibility for your body. He has always trusted his intuition to get second opinions and followed his gut if something hasn't felt right, which ultimately led him to the life-saving care he received at Auckland City Hospital.

"I've always just known if something isn't right. I'm so glad I stuck to my guns and had a colonoscopy 25 years ago, and I'm so grateful for the treatment and support I've received across every Auckland City Hospital department."

Alan's story is one of many. The teams at Auckland City Hospital provide life-changing care for men across Aotearoa and, with your support, we can help them go further.

👉 Read Alan's story: https://ahf.org.nz/alan-thanks-auckland-city-hospital-for-decades-of-care