15 February 2022
Mihi mai ki a Waimania Te Are who took the time to pen this kōrero to share with us…
Kia ora koutou,
My name is Waimania Te Are and I reside in Ruatāhuna. I have 3 children; 2 earthside, Te Ahuru who is 27, Amiorangi aged 25 and my eldest son, Iharaia, who is heaven-side and now 30-years-old.
In 1991, was my first introduction to Tākuta Bernard Conlon. At the time, Dr Singh was the tākuta in residence at the Murupara Medical Centre and Tākuta Conlon was based at the local shopping centre.
That same year, I gave birth to my eldest son and not long after Dr Conlon became the practitioner for our communities while my mother was one of the nurses working alongside him too.
As all new mums will know, being a first time Mum can be trying at the best of times, but without a doubt, I knew any medical concerns I had for my baby were always catered for by Dr Conlon, in a manner I trusted.
Along went the years and then I had my son, Te Ahuru, and daughter, Te Amiorangi, or Amio as known to most.
When she was about 3-weeks-old she developed bad respiratory problems. Dr Conlon did not hesitate to treat my daughter, even at 3 am. He treated her at his home and admitted us to the nearest hospital ICU - just over 60km away. That was scary, but Dr Conlon called me every day to see how I was and asked if I understood what was happening to my daughter.
He broke down the medical terms that were gibberish language to me.
Throughout the 30 years, I have known Dr Conlon, he has always been open and transparent when treating me as a patient.
He still now remains my children’s GP.
He has become a long-time trusted family friend, he has offered me comfort in my times of grief, he's a breath of fresh air for me in my job of caring for a stroke patient and can make me laugh with his one-liners. I suppose if you get him as a person then you get his witty one-liners 🙄🤣🤣 but through it all, I trust him wholeheartedly.
Not many people can claim a relationship with a doctor like me and many others in our communities have developed over time. We as Māori can be rather standoffish to anyone new, who we meet along our way in life and I thank you, Dr Conlon, for your perseverance to bring us to the line for both our health and wellbeing.
Ngā mihi Dr Conlon and Dr Britta Noske for caring for me and my whānau.
Arohanui,
Waimania Te Are and whānau
Photos above: Waimania's Mum, Ruahine Te Are and her children; Iharaia, Amiorangi and Te Ahuru.
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