Helping Nicci and Trevor
As this is the last Big Favour of 2013, we wanted a really meaningful one (not that the other Big Favours haven't been, we just wanted to make sure we were able to assist someone who we believed embodied the spirit of the Big Favour).
And we found him. And her. And them!
Monica wrote in to the Big Favour to see if we could assist her friends who were down and out after illness threatened their love for one another.
Read the letter sent in by Monica:
"Dear Big Favour
I met Nicci just over 5 years ago. She came across as such a bubbly loving and especially caring person but only when I got to know her more did I realize the huge cross she was carrying.
Nicci and Trevor met 10 years ago and like all young lovers had planned a wonderful life together filled with health happiness and a few children . They got married 6 years ago and just three mths after that Trevor become very ill. He had many tests done and eventually it was confirmed that his kidneys were starting to fail!
Trevor had to eventually give up work just over two years ago as he had to go to the hospital twice a week to go on the dialysis machine. He was in hospital more than at home with infections. By this time they had put his name down for a Kidney Transplant but was told this could take years. Time was running out and with Trevor in hospital they started to look at all other options. His entire extended family were tested but no one was a match.
Nicci had mentioned to Trevor a few times that she wanted to be tested…. Well eventually it was agreed and she was tested and guess what she was a perfect match!! It took a year for the Minister of Health to sign the papers with Nicci phoning every week to track the progress while Trevor battled with infections as his body was giving up.
As we are aware that the donor , which was Nicci, is more at risk and takes a longer time to recover but this was the only chance that Trevor had with his health deteriorating as every day went by.
The news final came that all documents were signed and the green light was given. Nicci and Trevor when into hospital two days before the Transplant and on the 5 November – my birthday ,the transplant took place. – what an amazing gift this was for everyone close to them .
The transplant took place and now a week later is a great success. They are both in i.c.u and will be there for the next two weeks and Nicci will be off work for 3mths .
The reason for sharing this amazing story is that Nicci has been the breadwinner for them since Trevor gave up his work two years ago due to his illness. Nicci works as a beauty consultant at a department store so will only get 65 % of her basic salary ,no commission which is what makes up most of her salary while she is off which is till the end of Feb. This is not enough to pay the electricity , rent and food let alone any other extra’s for example they will have to catch the taxi once a week to the hospital while they are both recovering.
Not only has this been an act of love but such a selfless act of kindness from Nicci . I ask from the bottom of my heart if East Coast Radio could read this story and find some way to help these two young special people to get back on their feet and take some pressure of them so they can get better quicker and start living a better life."
Monica, Nicci and Trevor appeared on the Big Favour on Tuesday. Trevor wore a mask as he is not meant to be away from home for a few months otherwise it is high risk for his new kidney to fail. His doctor has allowed his visit to ECR provided he wears a mask.
Spar on Riverside has come on board with the most amazing offer. Take a listen to the Big Favour audio to find out how they helped Nikki and Trevor. (Carl and Donny from the Spar also appeared on the Big Favour.)
A big thanks to Esme for her amazing Big Favour cakes once again.