Heart Children

Lives in Auckland and is the Northern region representative. Heather has two sons, Gary and Grant. Gary was born in 1961 with Patent Ductus Arteriosus and had corrective surgery at 4 months. Heather works as Grief Issues Support Coordinator at Parent & Family Resource Centre and is a member of the Heart Children Auckland Committee and the Auckland Medical School Community Network. She is a supporting member of the Bereaved Parents Group in Auckland and Thames, a committee member of Kidney Kids of NZ and Velo-Cardio-Facial syndrome (the 22q11.2 deletion) support group. Heather is also a member of the Auckland City COGS committee.

Lives in Auckland and is married to Malcolm with two children, Daniel and Nicholas. Nicholas, the youngest was born in 1991 with Tetralogy of Fallot and since then Donna has been an active committee member of Heart Children Auckland and chairperson since 1993, an inaugural board member, representing Auckland since 1994 and a trustee of Heart Children (1995) Trust since 1998. Nicholas had an emergency Blalock Shunt at 2 months and a major TOF repair in 1993. In September 1997, because of arrhythmia, he had a pacemaker inserted. In 2004, Nicholas had a Pulmonary Valve replacement, Tricuspid valve repair and an upgraded dual chamber pacemaker inserted. Nicholas will require further surgery in the future. Donna is Group Procurement Manager at Fairfax New Zealand Ltd.

Sheree Dodson:

Lives in Papamoa and is married to Bryan with two children, Mikaela born July 2000 and Nathan September 2004.  Sheree was part of a very enthusiastic group from the Bay that set up Heart Children Bay of Plenty as an affiliated branch of Heart Children New Zealand, holding the Chairperson role from 2001 until our recent AGM in March of 2005.   Sheree is currently on the committee having recently taken up the role of Central Northern Board Representative.  Mikaela was diagnosed at 5 months with an ASD and pulmonary stenosis, at 8 months she had surgery to repair the ASD and also PDA which was found during surgery.  Sheree works in the banking industry and has done so since 1986.

Rob Lutter

I am married to Maureen, who was Chairperson of Heart Children Hawkes Bay for 8 years and we have 3 boys, youngest of who is Zac, our Heart Child.  Zac was born with multiple heart defects.  The major faults were L-TGA, Pulmonary Atresia.  He has had multiple heart surgical procedures including Pacemaker replacements and many months in hospital, Hawkes Bay, Greenlane and now Starship through the years.  At this moment he is going really well but will require ongoing surgery in the future. I am a Director of Bay Business Solutions, a business consulting firm which provides business planning for Companies and Organisations in Hawkes Bay.  I also currently serve as a Napier City Councillor.  What I bring to the Board are skills and passion to make a difference in shaping an organisation that provides a great service to you and your children when you need it most.

Helen Tweeddale:

I live in Wanganui and am married to Garry and have two young adults John and Michelle.  John was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve at the age of 3, it was later found that he has a faulty mitral and tricuspid valves.   John underwent surgery at the age of 13 to widen his aortic valve, and in 2002 it was diagnosed that his aorta had ballooned to three times the normal size.  He had part of his aortic arch replaced with a Dacron graft in August of 2002.  I have been involved with Heart Children since 1999, and helped set up the Wanganui Branch of Heart Children in 2002, have held the position of the Branch Chairperson since then.  I work with Garry in our Beekeeping Business doing the accounts and all relevant paperwork for this business.

Kathryn Scrivener

I live in Lower Hutt and am currently a committee member for the Wellington/Wairapa Branch.  I am married to Rex and mum to 3 year old twins, Emma and Ryan.  Ryan was diagnosed with a large VSD and an ASD at birth, although the defect was detected earlier during the routine 20 week pregnancy scan.  At 8 weeks old, Ryan underwent surgery to repair the VSD at Starship in Auckland. Since returning from a 7 year stint in Europe at the end of 2006 with my family, I have worked as a Communications Consultant, working freelance in both public and private sectors, specialising in Internal Communication.  In 2007, I also held the position of President for the Hutt Valley Multiple Birth Club, an organisation that I am still an active member of.
Having worked previously in corporate environments I hope to make a contribution to the Heart Children NZ Board in both a personal and professional capacity

Lives in Christchurch with my wife Suzie and Children Bradley (7) and Grace (4). After many years in Auckland, Suzie got home sick and we moved to Christchurch, where we enjoy a relaxing lifestyle. Grace was born with Hypoplastic Left Ventricle. Grace has had a Norwood Procedure, a Bi Directional Glen and a Fontan Procedure. So far Grace is doing very well and enjoying life to the full. I work in Credit Management for MARAC Finance Limited and am actively involved with Heart Children Canterbury, both on the Committee and the Business Committee.

Suzanne Crosado:

I'm a Registered Nurse currently working as an Administrator/Practice Nurse for a busy General Practice in Dunedin.  I have been involved with Heart Children since our son Alex was diagnosed with multiple complex heart defects at 8 days old.  Alex has undergone 5 lots of surgery on his heart and despite giving us a couple of major scares with broken pacemaker wires, he seems to be doing pretty well.  I am married to Brynley who has also been on the Board of HCNZ and involved with the Otago Branch over previous years.  I have been on the Otago Branch for 8 years, including time as Secretary and now as Chairperson and on the HCNZ Board since November 2006.  Outside of work I enjoy silk painting, card making, beading, reading, gardening, walking and slightly dubious skills as a home handyperson.