Shaz | Timaru, Canterbury

“I have anxiety, so I struggle doing a lot of things, but I have a court case with my children at the moment, due to an ex-partner. So doing that and having to be brave. It’s so hard, going in there and fighting it, but it’s something I have to do, really. 

What I’ve learned is that I can be strong for myself, and even when things get hard, just look back on it and say, look at the end goal and focus on that. It’s hard to say things right out of my head, but I’ve learned heaps.

We don’t have our children at the moment. We have three boys. Our goal is to get them home, back home with us, and just live happy little families.

I grew up in Dunedin. When I was born, I weighed just under half a pound. I was a really little baby. I’ve travelled around a few places. Been Invercargill. Timaru’s my main place. Christchurch, Ashburton, just the South Island, really. I’ve been through hell and back, to be honest growing up in OT’s care, but I’m getting my life on track now, and things are good.”