Strong Voices

A big present brought a lot of smiles to the McComb household in Levin just before Christmas.

A delivery truck arrived with a special set of bunks for seven-year-old Tyler, which Mum Emma McComb and brother Logan hope will mean a better night’s sleep for the whole family.

Tyler was only a day old when he had a major stroke that caused paralysis on his right side and affected his development. As a result, Tyler struggles with many day-to-day activities. “He falls through the gaps everywhere,” Emma says. “Everything is a struggle.”

But one of the hardest things he faces is the pain at night in his right leg that often prevents him – and the rest of the family – sleeping.

He needed a new bed and a mattress with better lumbar support to correct his posture and lessen the chronic pain. With the support of IHC, he now has his new bunks – a double bed on the bottom so he can sprawl out, and a single bed on the top so his mother or 12-year-old brother can have the occasional ‘sleepover’ in his room when he is in pain.

The family was buzzing after Tyler’s first night in his new bed. “I think it’s going to help him sleep better,” Emma says. “He was very uncomfortable at night, but last night he slept all night. He was so, so excited – just the smile on his face.”

The bunk beds were arranged by Horowhenua IHC Family-Whanau Liaison Suzanne Downes. “Getting a better sleep will hopefully help him participate more fully in ctivities at school and home during the day,” Suzanne says. “Tyler has significant pain in his leg at night-time due to his hemiplegia. Mum has to massage his leg and apply heat packs – a restless night does not bode well for the following day at school.

“There was great excitement in the household when they heard that he was getting a new bunk bed from The Bunk House and a brand-new supportive mattress from teddy – both Kiwi companies,” she says. “The founder and CEO of teddy discounted the price of the mattresses.”

Suzanne says the rewarding part of her Family-Whanau Liaison role is being able to help families and make a difference in their lives.

Caption: Tyler is hoping for a better night’s sleep, thanks to his new bunks.

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