Ruthie Nielsen: hapū, COVID-19, ICU

In this episode of Mai I Kurawaka, we talk to Ruthie Nielsen. Ruthie is a māmā to 2 tamariki (children) and at the time of interviewing, was hapū (pregnant) with her third baby. Ruthie shares the challenges she and her husband, Hans, faced conceiving their first two children, especially after being told they had a 20% chance of conceiving. Ruthie details her third pregnancy as a beautiful surprise, particularly given the season in their life at that time was focused on work and career. Six months into the pregnancy, Ruthie attended the tangi (funeral) of a beloved uncle where she and her whānau (family) contracted COVID- 19. She discusses their experience in an isolation facility where she was eventually transferred to hospital as she developed Pneumonia and required a ventilator for assisted breathing. Despite the immense challenges and heartache in her experience, Ruthie speaks with a lot of hope and encouragement. Despite being such a unique story, it is one about having faith in the face of uncertainty which many whānau may be able to connect with.   Credits: Hosts: Lizzie Strickett, Jessikha Leatham- Vlasic. Producer: Hāpai te Hauora CONTACT US:  Via email- [email protected] Via instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hapaitehauora/?hl=en