A home away from home

During my visit I meet several residents including Gillian Parker, who has been at Ranui for two and a half weeks and is supporting her husband Michael. The couple’s home is in Dunedin. Michael has a rare type of leukaemia and has just had a bone marrow transplant. ‘Being able to stay here has been fantastic,’ says Gillian. ‘We’re still paying a mortgage so if we’d had to pay for accommodation here as well I don’t know what we’d have done. We’ve both had to give up work and we’ll be here for months and months.’

Being able to stay so close to Christchurch Hospital has been a real plus for Gillian. ‘It’s so handy and if anything happens I can be there in a couple of minutes. Plus the kitchen facilities here are really good, so it’s easy for me to cook meals and keep myself healthy as the caregiver.’

Michael’s sister from North Carolina flew over to be a bone marrow donor and was also able to stay at Ranui. ‘She needed to be near the hospital. It wasn’t a problem for her to stay here for a few nights; the apartments and facilities are beautiful.’

Allison also introduces me to John and Lyn Hocquard, of Blenheim. This is their fourth stay at Ranui and they expect to be here this time for two months as part of ongoing treatment for John’s cancer.

‘My immunity is down and so I don’t want to go out much,’ says John. ‘Usually I’d be outside working on our small vineyard, but I’m happy to stay inside here; it is very easy and so pleasant.’

On a previous stay, John needed a stem cell transplant and was in hospital for months. Lyn says her stay was made less lonely by Ranui’s supportive environment. When not at hospital with John, she could mix with other residents, staff and volunteers and enjoy the afternoon teas provided. Groups of volunteers also cook dinner for residents every few weeks.

‘You really couldn’t ask for a better place,’ says Lyn, noting how they both adore the spacious kitchen and Ranui’s library room, both so convenient for catch-ups with friends and family.

Sometimes extra family members stay for a birthday or at Christmas. ‘We never say they can’t come – we’re very family oriented,’ says Allison.