Danielle’s survival

Our names are Leah and Andy Peters, parents of Danielle Cragg.

Where do we start, our first born daughter Danielle has had a rough life. She was born with scoliosis but her physical restrictions haven’t stopped her from being a bubbly, chatty person.

Danielle has two daughters, Cienna (almost 17) and Jaida (13) who she loves more than anything.

She loves her job and has changed the lives of many students, guiding them through their disability support work training, going above her job requirements to make sure they succeed. Shes a mother hen - always caring about other people before herself.

Danielle was admitted to hospital on the 24th of August 2024 for decompression surgery for chiari malformation. This was a huge operation, but without it Danielle would have ended up in a wheelchair unable to walk and eventually becoming a quadriplegic.

There was no option, this operation had to happen.

A few days after the surgery, just as we all breathed a sigh of relief, things started to go pear shape. Danielle had two non responsive episodes followed by a cardiac arrest.

Thankfully she was in ICU after having the non responsive so the doctors and nurses were quick to revive her and put her on life support.

This was just the beginning of many set backs.

It was discovered that Danielle has a swallow problem caused by a valve in her oesophagus staying closed. Instead of guiding food and water into her stomach, everything goes straight into her lungs. Although she has been nil by mouth, only able to use swabs for moisture, her saliva is still getting into her lungs triggering constant aspirational pneumonia.

The only way she can get nutrition is via a food peg attached directly to her stomach, meaning she will never have food or fluids orally again. This was successfully put in Monday 14th October 2024.

Danielle also has respiratory issues, the muscles around her lungs are weak and damaged. Her lung condition is her biggest challenge and has deteriorated dramatically since her surgery.

With the recommendation of specialists, Danielle has had a tracheotomy to protect her lungs from further aspiration and to support her respiratory needs including life support if she has another turn. This was put in on Tuesday the 15th of October 2024 and although a life saving procedure, this is also a curse for Danielle. Due to her particular case this is permanent and means she will not be able to talk again. Those who know her will understand how huge this loss is for her.

Without a voice she cannot go back to work, without work she has no income.

Her daughters Cienna and Jaida need their mum, they are begging her to yell at them just to hear her voice again.

Right at this moment Danielle is still in hospital in ICU. It is a long road ahead with her hospital stay predicted at months. Birthdays, school awards and Christmas all missed.

Her whole life has been turned upside down.

This go fund me initially was to create a dream back yard, enabling her to recover in a space that would be good for her physical rehab and mental health. Funds gifted have allowed us to put that dream in place.

All will be revealed and we cannot thank you all enough for your support.

With Danielle’s health deteriorating, our focus has changed to save her home. She has worked so hard to buy herself and her daughters their happy place. It has just rolled one year since she purchased her home to give CC and Jaida their own room. They had waited for 8 year to have their own room.

We can’t just sit back and wait for her to loose her home.

We appreciate that everyone is doing it tough right now, but could you imagine if everything you love was taken away in one swoop.

Your right to have a meal with your family,

Your ability to speak and communicate

Your job that you loved

Your income

Your home that you fought so hard for

Danielle has helped so many businesses and people over the years,

She would never ask for help.

Its now time to pay it forward, its Danielle’s turn to be on the receiving end.

Danielle and her girls are going to have tough days ahead, any support would be gratefully appreciated.

Missing your take away coffee is a simple way of supporting Danielle meet her Mortgage requirements.

Danielle has lost so much in the last two months. We can’t sit back and allow her to loose her home too. Danielle and her girls need to stay in their home.

They say i‘t takes a village.

Everyone reading this story can help build the village around Danielle.

Any donations big or small would be gratefully accepted.

Please share this page and flood media platforms so Danielle’s story can be heard.

Again, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Leah and Andy