Sir Bob Parker keen to attend memorial after stroke

FORMER Christchurch mayor and TV host Sir Bob Parker is determined to attend the 2011 earthquake memorial service on February 22, despite his own ill health.

Sir Bob (68), who was mayor during the 201011 quakes, is in a hospital care facility in Christchurch after suffering a heart attack, which was followed by a stroke late last year.

He was an inspirational leader who, during the dark days in the immediate aftermath of the quakes, was the voice of reassurance to Christchurch residents.

‘‘At the time, I was just doing my job trying to get information out to people. It always felt it was just such a privilege to be able to help,’’ Sir Bob said.

Attending the memorial service to support those who lost loved ones or were injured in the earthquake was important to him.

He has attended all previous memorial events and wants to be there again as a mark of respect to the many victims.

Sir Bob felt at his fittest when he had a heart attack on May 3 last year.

He was treated and received medication after the heart attack including bloodthinning drugs for his initial medical event.

Then, seemingly wellrecovered, he had a stroke on the morning of October 5.

He collapsed at his Christchurch home with the lifethreatening stroke causing an infracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), which is bleeding within the brain tissue.

Sir Bob spent 11 days in Christchurch Hospital’s intensive care unit in a critical condition before being transferred to a general ward for a further two to three weeks’ monitoring.

That was followed by 11 weeks of care and rehabilitation at Burwood Hospital, where he had two smaller strokes, before he moved to his current care facility at the end of last week.

His wife, Lady Jo NichollsParker, is full of praise for the medical treatment her husband has received.

‘‘At every stage of Sir Bob’s illness, he has had the most amazing care and support from hospital staff at all levels.’’

The stroke has affected movement on Sir Bob’s left side and he is in a wheelchair.

Sir Bob served two terms as Christchurch mayor from 2007 to 2013.

His tenure spanned the 2010 and 2011 earthquake sequence which devastated the city, and on February 22, 2011, claimed the lives of 185 people.

Sir Bob was a constant sight in the quake’s aftermath, leading recovery efforts, working alongside police, army, and international rescue squads, and dealing with the media. — The New Zealand Herald