Loads of inspiration

From time to time I’m contacted or confronted by a reader asking, ‘‘ Why don’t you print something positive for a change?’’.

I challenge them to count up the stories they consider negative in the latest edition against the number they deem positive, then get back to me if they’ve still got an axe to grind. They never do.

Some people tend to tarnish community newspapers with the same brush they do national media, or simply judge a paper by its cover. We prioritise stories on what we think will engage or affect the most readers, and yes, these stories often involve issues of contention or angst.

Whatever the cause of the doom and gloom perception, I’m not anticipating many grumbles due to our last couple of editions. Last week’s article on Mary Humphreys’ health woes and today’s story on Titahi Bay toddler Flynn Brodie – who is lumbered with a rare, incurable disease – convey bucketloads of inspiration.

There may be little ‘‘positive’’ about Mary or Flynn’s medical situations, but plenty in the courage, love and support displayed by those close to them.

Mrs Humphreys came through seven hours of high risk surgery last week, which followed a fivemonth stay in Wellington Hospital due to blood clotting in her bowel and complications. In the lead-up and since, the North Porirua Baptist Church community rallied around her and ensured her daughters could return home from Australia and be by her side.

A cake sale at Whitby mall on Saturday, that was supposed to run until 1pm, sold out by 11.30am, raising a further $1024. That’s a lot of cake.

We hope Flynn is blessed with similar community-level support when his family hosts an awareness day for pachyonychia congenita (PC) – a painful, debilitating skin disorder – at Titahi Bay School on June 2.

As well as PC, Flynn suffers from haemophilia. His family reckon it’s highly likely he is the only person in the world to be afflicted with both conditions.

The not-quite 2-year-old and his family have been dealt a bloody hard hand, and it’s with admiration that we report their active, upbeat attempt to raise awareness and funding via a community fair.

Of course, there are always people in our city facing tough ordeals, and doing so with fortitude, and most don’t garner media attention.

But it is the attitude and action of these people – and those who help them through – that define and reflect the character of our city at its best.

And contrary to what some may think, we love bringing these stories to readers.

Matthew Dallas, Editor