In 2019, Sarah, 22, had been struggling to conceive. She went to the newest local GP with the shortest wait time. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe got in nice and easily there, just to find out that it was probably the worst decision we\u2019d made,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Here began a four-year-long wild goose chase, with Sarah claiming she waited months at a time and regularly tried to chase up blood test results, ultrasound referrals, and Fertility Associates referrals. <\/p>\n
Eventually, Sarah claimed she was told she\u2019d need to try to naturally conceive for five years before she could be referred to the Fertility Associates. Without a referral, just the first doctor consultation with the Fertility Associates is $380. <\/p>\n
Sarah’s tumour was on her left ovary, potentially growing since she was a teen.<\/p>\n
By the start of 2022, she had moved to Taumarunui in the King\u2019s Country, but she was hesitant to transfer doctors and lose progress. <\/p>\n
About April 2022, she moved to a new doctor, who was \u201cabsolutely appalled\u201d and \u201cupset\u201d by her experience. <\/p>\n
The doctor sent the referral to the Fertility Associates \u201cwhile I was sitting there right next to her\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t realise that everything was as bad as it was. I thought this was normal processes because that\u2019s what they were kind of saying to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fertility Associates contacted her immediately and pointed her towards IVF, saying she had waited long enough without conceiving. She was also finally given an ultrasound. <\/p>\n
The potential of living with colostomy bag forever terrifies the woman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was during that, they couldn\u2019t find my reproductive organs because there was this mass in front of it.\u201d <\/p>\n
The mass was a 10cm by 8cm tumour, so big it protruded from her stomach, and could be felt and moved around by hand.<\/p>\n
Within a month she went into surgery. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs I was being wheeled into surgery, they wanted permission to take my uterus as well as both the ovaries,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Sarah didn\u2019t want to lose her reproductive organs and all her chances of getting pregnant, so kept everything she could, and allowed them to do 15 biopsies and a laparotomy. <\/p>\n
One ovary was taken out with the large tumour attached to it, leaving behind her other ovary and bowel, both with small tumours that shouldn\u2019t have affected their functioning. <\/p>\n
While her tumours were not cancerous at the time, Sarah must now have MRIs every six months to watch for cancer development.<\/p>\n
The only treatment will be eventual removal of all infected tissue – losing all reproductive organs and a bowel resection. <\/p>\n
Sarah will then need to wear a colostomy bag and take hormones. <\/p>\n
The Taumarunui woman now has two kids just a year and a half apart.<\/p>\n
For Sarah, stalling the removal of the affected tissue and organs was a risk, but the alternative of not having kids felt worse. <\/p>\n
At that point, the option of IVF was unavailable as her tumours were hormone-sensitive, and surrogacy was her final option. <\/p>\n
One month after the surgery she fell pregnant naturally. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt great. I cried so much when I got that test.\u201d <\/p>\n
It turned out the large tumour was putting so much pressure on her uterus that nothing was able to live in it. <\/p>\n
Sarah was able to conceive her second child quickly as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy children are miracle babies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
On the late nights when the kids were up and crying, she remembered the times when she would cry in the shower about not being able to have kids. <\/p>\n
\u201cEven the worse times now, are better.\u201d <\/p>\n
Sarah said an advocate from HDC had asked what she wanted the outcome of the investigation to be – but she struggled to know if anything could make up for the damage caused.<\/p>\n
The Health and Disability Commissioner receive complaints about the quality of services provided to people. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe only thing that would make it okay would be for my health to be okay, but it never will be.\u201d <\/p>\n
Health Hub Project said that prior to the Herald\u2019s inquiry, they had not had direct contact with Sarah since she transferred practices in 2022.<\/p>\n
Executive director Andrew Nolan said it would not be appropriate for them to comment until HDC\u2019s formal investigation was complete. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll matters of this nature are taken seriously and are managed through established clinical governance and complaints processes.\u201d <\/p>\n
Nolan said the investigation included reviewing clinical and administrative records, and deciding next steps that may help in \u201cresolving the matter or mitigating any potential adverse health consequences\u201d. <\/p>\n
An HDC spokeswoman said they were awaiting more information to progress Sarah\u2019s complaint. <\/p>\n