Grocott Family - Taumarunui
Eleven-year-old Marcus Grocott is a very special boy. He was born with ASD, ADHD, sensory processing disorders and Trichotillomania (the distressing urge to pull out your hair). Yet, with what some may see as the odds stacked against him, Marcus is an extremely intelligent young man who loves to read, game, play with his two younger brothers and draw. Mum Talia couldn’t be prouder of her eldest child.
The Grocotts live in the beautiful rural town of Taumarunui, over three hours from Auckland. Last year their lives were turned upside down and they were introduced into the world of childhood cancer, hospitals and – thankfully – the support of RMHC NZ. Late in 2024 Marcus started showing signs of needing glasses, so Talia took him to get his eyes tested. They found he couldn’t see out of his right eye at all – and referred him to an ophthalmologist who called for an MRi. This showed a very large craniopharyngioma that was pressing on Marcus’ optic nerve and pituitary; Marcus was rushed to hospital in Auckland the next day via ambulance and taken into surgery almost immediately. “My husband and I stayed on the ward for the next nine nights while he recovered,” explains Talia, “we would swap out and the other one stay at Ronald McDonald House – it was so nice to recharge, have a shower and a home-cooked meal. It meant we could have the strength to stay positive for Marcus and not feel overwhelmed ourselves.” 
Before last year, Talia wasn’t familiar with the roles of Neurologists, Endocrinologists, Ophthalmologists, Radiologists or Oncologists. “I’m now on a first name basis with them and can understand technical terminology.” Marcus has had treatment in Auckland since his surgery and will be undergoing 30 rounds of radiation this month. He is now blind in one eye with tunnel vision in the other, but the family are counting any vision as a win. In total, the family have stayed at RMHC for coming up 100 nights and will be needing their support for many more. “I imagine it would have cost us tens of thousands in hotel, parking and food cost,” Talia says, “I honestly think we would have gone bankrupt with the mortgage and bills back home to cover as well. Without RMHC, we probably would have slept in the car – or doing round trips back home which would have been really dangerous. I can’t quite put into words how much RMHC has meant to us.”
Talia was aware of RMHC prior to Marcus being diagnosed; her close friend was one of the first ten families to stay in Auckland in 1994. However, she never realised the extent of the impact until her family needed the service. “Never in my life did I think I would one day need to use the charity for my own family,” Talia says, “this is a place you wish you never have to use, but it’s so needed.” Due to Marcus’ autism, routine is really important and the family love having their own room to call a ‘home-away-from-home’. “The environment is so amazing for Marcus,” says Talia, “after his brain surgery his face was swollen, and his spatial awareness wasn’t there. We had a lot of stares out in public, but in Ronald McDonald House there was none of that. The families there are going through their own journey – there’s no judgement, it’s such a safe space.”
They were impressed by the community support too. “A First IX high school rugby team cooked us up a feast one evening. Seeing the boys do their part to help families they probably would never meet restored my faith in humanity.”
Talia finds exercising to be amazing for her mental health, especially during this time. “The gym at RMHC gives me much needed me-time so I can keep showing up for Marcus. When I saw the advert for House to House it gave me the perfect boost – I could keep fit, improve my mental health while spreading the word about RMHC.” Talia’s friends will do her steps for her on the days she needs to be in the hospital due to Marcus’ treatment.
While there is still a long road in front of them, the Grocotts are staying positive and are grateful for the support of RMHC and the people that donate. “To be here now, in our situation, I am so truly grateful to every single person who donates to the charity, to all those people who even just add $1 to the McDonalds order, thank you.
“Families shouldn’t have to go broke just to stay close to their children, to be able to love and support them as they go through unimaginable events in their lives. RMHC has been our saviour, and we cannot say thank you enough.”
