Operation North The Army Captains Fighting For Their Son's Life

The Pair Are Going the Extra Mile for Their Little Battler.

- Steve Landells

It’s fitting that Laura and Tane North are embarking on a 700km walking challenge from Wellington to Auckland to raise funds for their disabled son.

Born with microcephaly and an undiagnosed genetic condition, three-year-old Elijah cannot speak, is legally blind, fed through a tube and has 14 health issues.

Yet the loving couple from Trentham, who are both New Zealand Army captains, are determined to do all they can for their son who cannot step out on his own.

Keen to raise $56,000 on their mammoth trek, they hope the money can be put towards regular treatment sessions at the world-leading Neurological and Physical Abilitation (NAPA) Centre in Sydney.

“Elijah can only move around on a walker, but he’s so motivated to walk,” says the mum-of-four. “As an able-bodied person, walking is something we take for granted. Tane and I can both walk, so that is why we chose the walk to Auckland.”

After a normal pregnancy with her third child, Laura (33) initially saw “nothing untoward” with baby Elijah, who weighed a healthy 2.9kg, despite being born four weeks premature.

“For a long time, I had my head in the sand,” explains Laura, who has two older children, Ellamae (11) and TJ (6). “He was my baby and he was amazing.”

Over time, however, it was apparent all was not well. Put on a permanent feeding tube, Elijah was formally diagnosed with microcephaly, which means he has a small head because of abnormal brain development.