Crusaders stars push for Kiwi kid's new kidney

  • 13/07/2016
Andy Ellis, Israel Dagg, Maddie Collins and Wyatt Crockett (Newshub.)
Andy Ellis, Israel Dagg, Maddie Collins and Wyatt Crockett (Newshub.)

Maddie Collins needs a new kidney and she's enlisted the help of the Crusaders to get one.

The 12-year-old has nephrotic syndrome, which means her kidneys were struggling to do their job.

It's the same condition All Black great Jonah Lomu suffered from.

Maddie was already down to one kidney when, like the first, it started failing. She underwent a kidney transplant with an organ donated by her father, but her body has since rejected it.

This means the Canterbury girl must have 10 hours of dialysis a night, which includes a feeding tube through her stomach.

It's something she says makes her body feel "disgusting" at times, and she misses out on sleepovers with her friends.

Her family is trying to raise $350,000 to head to North America for a kidney transplant, as her medical team say it's unlikely a match will be found in New Zealand.

Crusaders Israel Dagg, Andy Ellis, and Wyatt Crockett decided to help Maddie out by spreading the word about her fight.

Maddie's mum Sarah says if people were able to donate the money they would normally spend on a cup of coffee, it would mean the world to them.

Andy Ellis, Israel Dagg, Maddie Collins, Wyatt Crockett (Newshub.)

Newshub.