‘We don’t know how long we have left’: Junee family turns to community for help

THE family of a Junee woman who narrowly survived two cardiac arrests and multiple organ failure, is pleading for help from the community to ensure the cost of her ongoing care doesn’t come at a cost to the quality time she has left with her loved ones.

Just days after welcoming in the new year with her family, Narelle Targett, 60, was fighting for her life in a Sydney hospital after suffering a complete heart block at her home during the early hours of January 11, 2024.

Her heart rate plummeted to just six beats per minute as she was rushed by ambulance to Wagga Base Hospital, where doctors worked frantically for over four hours to save her life.

Speaking with Junee Community News, Mrs Targett’s daughter, Samantha Targett, said the family were told to prepare for the worst.

“Mum had a heart rate of just nine when the ambulance arrived at the house,” Samantha said. “That had dropped to six by the time we reached Wagga.”

“At 7.30am, they came out and said they wanted to stop working on her, but that wasn’t an option for us.

“They said they were doing extensive life saving measures and had asked us what she would want.

“They said she would remain on life support with almost zero chance of waking up after being deprived of oxygen for so long, but we said we would cross that bridge only if we came to it.”

Thankfully, they never did.

To the medical team’s surprise, Mrs Targett regained consciousness after temporary pacing wires were inserted into her chest.

Following a marathon effort to keep her alive, Samantha said her mother was “awake and talking” by 9:30am.

The 60-year-old grandmother of five was airlifted to St Vincent Hospital in Sydney later that afternoon where 11 days later, after spending a week in the intensive care unit with multi-organ failure, she suffered a second cardiac arrest on January 22.

She had a permanent pacemaker inserted the following day and was transferred back to Wagga Base on January 30, before being discharged into the care of her family in February.

But despite being discharged, Mrs Targett’s health remains extremely fragile and sadly her family don’t know how much time they have left.

The cardiac arrests caused extensive organ damage, leaving the Junee woman with a lengthy list of complex medical issues, including a hypoxic brain injury that affects her mobility, memory, and cognition.

Specialists have also indicated that further invasive treatment is not viable due to the high risk of complications.

“Not one organ was spared,” Samantha said.

“We don’t know how long we have left with mum. Specialists are no longer treating her as they don’t think she will make it off the table or she will be a lot worse if she does.

“Doctors have advised us to keep her comfortable and focus on spending quality time together at home.”

But that quality time is coming at a cost and placing a significant financial strain on the family.

Mrs Targett does not want to be admitted into full time hospital care and her family wish to keep caring for her at home for as long as possible.

Samantha has spent the better part of the last decade caring for residents at Junee’s Cooinda Court Aged Care facility as a nursing assistant.

A mother of three school-aged children herself, she has been forced to drastically reduce her work hours and says the loss of income is preventing her from purchasing the extra items she needs to care for her mum.

The family has already purchased essential equipment, such as a hospital bed and a transfer aid, but still needs items like a wheelchair, a walking belt, and pressure-relief materials.

Despite extensive efforts, Mrs Targett has been unable to access assistance through My Aged Care or the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), as she does not meet the eligibility criteria.

To be eligible to receive government subsidised aged care services, you must be aged 65 years or older. For aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, this threshold drops to 50 years or older.

“She has fallen through the cracks of the system,” Samantha said. “She is too young to access My Aged Care and we have had no luck obtaining any help from NDIS.”

“I’ve spent countless hours submitting applications and gathering evidence, but we’ve been declined at every turn.”

The family is now turning to the community for help.

Mrs Targett marked her 60th birthday today, Sunday, November 24, and recently celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary.

While Samantha is grateful for the extra time with her mother, she acknowledges the challenges ahead.

“Yes it’s hard, but we still have mum with us,” she said. That’s more than what they [doctors] were prepared to give us back in January.”

“Now we need help to make her remaining time as comfortable as possible.”

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to assist the Targett family with home care expenses, allowing them to focus on creating cherished memories together during the uncertain months ahead.

You can donate here.