Touching Hearts: How Tragedy Changed This TV Trio's Lives

Grief And Close Calls Inspire Three Famous Faces To Act.

- Amy Prebble

Miriama Kamo, Renee Wright and Melissa Stokes have a lot in common – the TVNZ presenters all balance demanding jobs with looking after children, they’re all fit, active and give back to the community, and they’ve all been affected by heart disease.

Despite medical advances, heart disease is still the single biggest killer of Kiwis, a fact Miriama (45) knows all too well. The popular Sunday and Marae host lost both her grandfathers to heart attacks. “I never knew one of my grandfathers, except through stories, but my papa was very precious to me,” she says. “He was such a beautiful and special man. I have so many memories of growing up with him. The fact he died of a heart attack was a big deal in my immediate whanau because my brother Ward was there when it happened and he had to try and revive him – and he was only in his teens.”

Because Miriama’s husband Mike Dreaver also has heart disease in his family, and her mum Mary (79) has angina, which means she battles daily with heart medication, the TV host didn’t need to be asked twice to help promote the Heart Foundation’s annual appeal.

Renee (38) was also happy to lend a hand. Heart problems claimed her beloved poppa Peter Wright. “He loved his fried bread and fatty foods, so that was a battle for him all his life, then it took its toll on his heart and he died of heart complications in his early 70s.”

Her grandmother Merle Winter (91) also has angina.

“Just looking at the statistics, you can see it affects so many New Zealanders,” Renee says.