Years of chronic middle ear infections had dramatically affected Ngāruawāhia high school student Alec Punga’s hearing.

Alec, who will shortly finish his last year of high school, was this year diagnosed with bilateral hearing loss after enduring months of pain and discomfort.  

But thanks to the dedication and persistence of his school nurse, Alec will see out his last year of school, and well into his future, being able to hear a pin drop.

An advocate for Alec

Sarita MacDonald is a nurse at Ngāruawāhia High School as part of the Pinnacle Midlands Health Network-run school-based health services (SBHS) programme. Funded by Te Whatu Ora, the programme funds nurse-led clinics in high schools, wharekura, teen parent units and alternative education sites throughout the Waikato region.

Alec had visited Sarita at the school clinic several times with recurrent ear infections, and she had become aware that he was experiencing significant hearing difficulties which were impacting his learning and social connections.

“Alec would bring his partner with him to our visits to help ‘translate’ our conversations, and that really highlighted to me that his hearing loss had spread further than he initially let on.”

It was important to Sarita that Alec was treated in a way that upheld manaakitanga (respect and kindness) and whanaungatanga (connection).

“As a service we work under the Te Ūkaipō framework, which highlights that a person’s hauora is more than just physical health – it includes emotional, spiritual and whānau wellbeing and reminds us to care for the whole person, so it was important that Alec felt respected and cared for on this journey.”

Treating an ongoing issue

Sarita initiated interventions for Alec’s recurring ear infections, supported by a visiting GP, and accompanied Alec to several review and treatment visits with a variety of public health providers.

“Unfortunately, his hearing didn’t improve as we hoped, so alongside Wai Kids (Te Whatu Ora’s Waikato children’s health provider) and Vision Technicians, Alec received a tympanogram (middle-ear function test) which confirmed he had bilateral hearing loss.”

Given Alec was in his final year of schooling, Sarita was determined he wouldn’t fall through the cracks.

She applied for Manaaki Tauira funding, a one-off grant for financial hardship, which enabled Alec to access private audiology and ENT appointments. Alongside funding for transport, Alec was able to travel to these appointments with his caregiver.

“Following his initial audiology and ENT assessment, Alec’s hearing improved – but only temporarily,” says Sarita.

When his symptoms came back some months later, his ENT specialist recommended bilateral grommets to relieve the pressure in Alec’s ears, and an adenoidectomy, the removal of Alec’s adenoids, which can also help with chronic ear infections.

Sarita again applied for Manaaki Tauira funding for Alec’s surgery; however, this only covered a small amount.

“This was when I reached out to Braemar Charitable Trust, who responded with incredible generosity, approving the full surgical cost within hours.”

The surgery was performed as part of the Trust’s community surgery programme, where surgeons and anaesthetists provide free surgeries and procedures to eligible patients. These patients are people unable to access timely care via the public system and don’t have health insurance or ACC cover, or the financial means to pay privately.

It was all worth it

A year’s worth of advocacy, partnership and mahi was all worth it.

“Since the surgery, Alec’s improvement has been remarkable. Seeing him back at school and able to hear his friends across the field has been truly heartwarming.

“Through collaboration, persistence, and a holistic approach, Alec has regained not only his hearing but also his connection to learning, his peers, and his own potential. I am so grateful for the support of Braemar Charitable Trust in supporting young people to grow and thrive – it’s something I struggle to find the words to explain.”

And as for Alec, he’s stoked with the outcome. “It’s been amazing. I couldn’t hear anything in class before, and it really affected my learning. Now I can hear even if I sit in the back – and I can even hear my phone now!”