Sonny Bill pops in for unheralded visit to Starship kids

Lorde’s visit to Starship was indeed under the radar, and Lorde was wonderful to see with so many children who came to meet her (Star’s kindly visit, July 23). My 8-year old son was over the moon to meet her and have her sign his sister’s journal, while Maya lay in her bed under sedation after emergency brain surgery two weeks ago. At exactly the same time, another superstar was visiting Starship as well. His visit was so far under the radar, it wasn’t noted at all. My son, completely rugbyobsessed and playing his first season of rugby this winter, was gobsmacked to return to his sister’s bedside after meeting Lorde to see Sonny Bill Williams standing in the foyer of Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the least likely ward to receive famous visitors, with patients who aren’t exactly exciting to visit. They’re all sedated, intubated and being monitored 24 hours a day by the nurses who somehow remain alert, upbeat, calm and caring during their 12.5 hour shifts. SBW visited every patient, asked questions, held their hands, chatted to parents, siblings and nurses and even sang a bit of How far I’ll Go to my fully-sedated daughter, who loved Moana, prehaemorrhage. He quietly slipped in and out of Picu and brightened the day of everyone there. It was wonderful.

Emma Smart, Wadestown

I don’t know who to vote for. I would like to know that when it comes to my family members’ personal wellbeing, I can make my own choices, like how to navigate the end of my life; or to try alternative medication for my child’s seizures or for my own debilitating pain and nausea. How would this affect the community at large or politicians? Where did the Government go that allowed women to vote and have abortions, the one that allows same-sex marriage? Why is New Zealand suddenly trailing the world? I would love to see the people in the Pike River tragedy getting