CHRISTINA

CHRISTINA IS BIG ON SPORTS AND HAS OVER 3 DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN FRONTLINE HEALTH DELIVERY, RETAIL MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS, HOSPITALITY AND SALES.

CHRISTINA BRINGS WITH HER 30 YEARS OF LIVING WITH INVISIBLE INJURIES HAVING SUFFERED FROM HER FIRST NECK INJURY AND CONCUSSION AT 14 YEARS OLD IN A TRAMPOLINE ACCIDENT AT SCHOOL. CHRISTINA WENT ON TO PLAY 1ST XV RUGBY AND PREMIERE TOUCH WHILE KEEPING A PART TIME JOB THROUGHOUT COLLEGE.

AT 25 CHRISTINA FELL FROM A DOUBLE DECKER BUS INJURING HER SPINE AND SCIATIC NERVE BUT MAINTAINED EMPLOYMENT AND INDEPENDANCE WHILE EVENTUALLY PLAYING 10 A SIDE RUGBY FOR VARSITY AUCKLAND, TOUCH SOCIALLY AND SOCCER FOR WESTERN SPRINGS AFC

IN 2021 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM HER JOB OF 17 YEARS CHRISTINA WAS IN A SERIOUS CAR ACCIDENT WHICH CHANGED HER LIFE INSTANTLY

CHRISTINAS INJURIES INCLUDED LUMBER SPINAL INJURY, UPPER CERVICAL INSTABILITY AND A VERY SERIOUS CONCUSSION

CHRISTINAS ACCIDENT HAPPENED DURING COVID WHICH BRANG ITS OWN SET OF CHALLENGES DELAYING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENTS. CHRISTINA REQUIRED FULLTIME ADVOCACY SUPPORT FOR MORE THEN 2 YEARS TO ADVOCATE FOR HER AS SHE WAS UNABLE TO NAVIGATE AN INDEPENDANT LIFE, MOTHERHOOD AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF HEALTH APPOINTMENTS AND STILL BEING EMPLOYED.

AT THE TIME OF HER ACCIDENT CHRISTINA WAS ALSO STUDYING FULL TIME. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO HER INJURIES CHRISTINA COULD NOT COMPLETE HER STUDIES AND MEDICALLY RETIRED FROM HER TWO ADMINISTRATION ROLES WITHIN THE ADULT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT AUCKLAND HOSPITAL WHERE SHE HAD ENJOYED WORKING FOR 17 YEARS.

CHRISTINA IS NAVIGATING HER NEW BODY AND BRAIN AND THIS IS HOW INVISIBLE INJURIES INSTITUTE WAS BORN AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND WHAT WE DO.