The mother of a disabled teenager, with the developmental age of a 1-year-old is pleading for help
The mother of a disabled teenager, with the developmental age of a 1-year-old is pleading for help
28 February 2026
Jakob Tindle has a very rare condition called distil 5-Q deletion syndrome.
The 17-year-old has been at Rotorua Hospital for more than five months - as he's become unpredictable and a danger to the family.
Jakob's mother, Melissa, has emailed ministers to secure a safe, residential home in Taupo - saying her son had fallen into a gap between the disability issues, health, and children ministries.
Health New Zealand says it's committed to providing safe, ongoing care to all inpatients, and Oranga Tamariki is responsible for placement of people younger than 18 in community-based care.
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