DOCUMENT

Above: Te Aorangi was born to a loving family who are helping her thrive. OUR LIFE Member Stories Te Aorangi’s story: “There are blessings in all of this” Te Aorangi Thrupp-Timoti is a bright, bubbly child, surrounded by a loving whānau and endless opportunities. From the moment she was born, she was a fighter – a taonga cherished by those around her. Born at just 29 weeks, Te Aorangi made an early entrance into the world, weighing 2lb 4oz. During her birth, Te Aorangi experienced a brain haemorrhage, leading to a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi. She spent time in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Special Care Baby Unit before going home at three and a half months of age. Fast forward to 2025, and Te Aorangi, 7, is a happy, caring, and energetic child with a great sense of humour. Stephen’s story: Teaching and sharing about life with CP For Stephen Bird, the key to success has been finding the balance between health, life and work. Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi affects his speech and his right hand and Stephen sees his disability as an opportunity – one he has proudly taken into his workplace and beyond. Stephen is a qualified registered Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher. “I love the kids. I love watching them succeed and empowering themselves to learn new things – that ‘ah-ha’ moment.” When Stephen graduated from Wintec in 2012, he was 25 years old and was the first male to complete the course, and the first person living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi to do so. Stephen loved working with the children, but the hardest part of being an ECE teacher and living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi, was the admin work that went with the role. “Things take me a bit longer. I couldn’t get the job done during work hours so I took it home. My work life started She loves making friends, going to the mall, and watching movies. She enjoys dancing and fishing, and her koro is her absolute favourite person. “She gives anything a go,” her whānau says. Te Aorangi takes part in gymnastics and swimming classes to help her stay active and strong. She has a deep connection to her Māori heritage, learning te reo Māori, participating in kapa haka, performing a fierce pukana, and confidently sharing her pepeha. Her whānau joined the Cerebral Palsy Society before her first birthday, and the support has been invaluable, especially the e-card funding, which helps cover her swimming lessons. “Te Aorangi is a gift to us all,” her whānau says. “Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu—although she is small, she is a treasure.” Their advice to other whānau is to seek knowledge, reach out for support, and remember that every child is a blessing. “It takes a village to raise these children, and we are proud to walk this journey together.” The full version of this article was published in the March 2025 edition of The Review magazine. 18 | ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2024-2025