Mum loses house, cat in flood while in hospital readying to give son her kidney

Tuesday, 31 January 2023

Linda Candy and her son Seth were in hospital in Auckland when their family home in Tauranga was flooded and her other children had to be rescued.

A mother of four has lost everything, including a beloved pet and essential medical equipment, when her house flooded while she was in hospital preparing to donate a kidney to her seriously ill son.

Linda Candy was in Starship Hospital, Auckland, with her oldest son, Seth, preparing for the kidney transplant.

It was a “shocking blow” in a series of stressful events for the family when she received news that her house in Tauranga where she lives with her four children had been completely flooded.

Family talk in shock of losing their house and family escaping.

Candy’s three children and their babysitter escaped to a neighbour’s house up the hill when floodwaters swept into houses in Redwood Lane on January 28, when the Wairoa river overflowed from the heavy rain pummelling the Bay of Plenty region over Anniversary Weekend.

Houses in Tauranga were flooded when the Wairoa river rose rapidly in the heavy downpour

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Emergency services arrived with a boat to rescue residents.

The children and the family friend, who was looking after them while their mother and brother were away, were then rescued when police arrived with a boat. They were able to find their pet dog and one of the cats, but a second cat, Dodge, belonging to Seth is missing.

“It’s Seth’s cat, and he is devastated,” said Candy.

The deluge of water ravaged the house, destroying household items and possessions, leaving the family homeless and with nothing but the clothes they left in.

Essential medical equipment and supplies for Seth worth $30,000 were also wiped out along with a car when the water seeped through the garage.

Although relieved that everyone was safe, Candy was crushed at the extent of the damage.

“I’m overwhelmed. I’ve been in tears most of the day It seems never ending. Having a seriously unwell child then the other events on top has been difficult.”

Candy recently lost her mother, who died earlier in January.

“I haven't even really had time to grieve for mum, who passed this month.”

Candy is not insured due to the expense as she had not been able to work while caring for her sick son. They are due to have the operation in two months and are on their way back to Tauranga.

A Givealittle has been set up to support the family.

Flooding from the rising river also forced an evacuation of patients from Waipuna Hospice, and the Waimarino Adventure Park was covered by deep waters.