Kaia Mason emergency lifesaving surgery…

Hi, my name is Kristal and I am the Aunty of 19 year old Kaia Mason. Kaia is the daughter of my younger sister Lavinia Gould and Ryan Mason. As a very young child Kaia was diagnosed with a condition called Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and immediate treatment begun. Kaia received a kidney transplant in 2014 and has continued regular intensive hospital treatments/stays including dialysis up to 3 times per week. All through this Kaia has managed to achieve high grades at school even after missing days, weeks and months of school at any one time and has maintained a part time job since the age of 13. Kaia graduated in 2021, continued working and has since started studying part time at university . All this while undergoing regular intensive treatment. Kaia has never had the opportunity to do things the average child, teenager and now young adult gets to experience. Life for her has been very limited. But she has always taken this in her stride and continues to do her very best and more, with the hand life has dealt her.

On Wednesday 23rd August Kaia went into hospital for what was supposed to be a pretty standard line removal . Kaia had been unwell for at least 6 weeks with flu and asthma like symptoms . On arrival at hospital tests were done finding several blood clots in her lung and chest. Kaia underwent 2 unsuccessful procedures to remove the clots and was placed in an induced coma due to a large clot forming in her heart and decline of lung and kidney function. On Monday 28th August Kaia underwent emergency open heart surgery to save her life, due to the clots completely blocking her lungs and breaking off in her heart . Post surgery Kaia was kept in an induced coma and resumed immediate and constant dialysis, due to further decline of kidney function.

Medical staff are now attempting to bring her slowly out of sedation. This is a slow 2 steps forward , 3 step backwards process but true to her nature, she is fighting to come back to us.

Kaia is a fiercely independent young lady who has lived on her own from the age of 17. To lose this independence even if just temporarily is going to be devastating for her. Rehab and recover is going to be very extensive as there is damage to lungs, heart and kidney . The enourmity of this will be unknown until she is fully conscious and out of the woods.

Kaia is unable to access Australian benefits at this point . Although she is entitled to Medicare cover in Australia, she has additional continued medical expenses that quickly mount up. My aim for this fundraiser is to enable Kaia time and space to recover at her own pace and without the financial stress that has been placed upon her due to continuous illness and treatment . Covering hers and potentially her carers everyday expenses whilst she recovers, is the ultimate goal .

Anyone who knows her and her story, knows how strong this young lady is . We are so immensely proud of her and what she has gone through and achieved in her life so far. This support would mean the world to her and the family and I know she will be extremely grateful once she wakes. I thank you for taking the time to read this.

Please keep our darling in your thoughts and prayers xx