Talk:Iraena Asher
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Iraena Te Rama Awhina Asher
July 17 1979 - October 11 2004
I remember the first time I saw Iraena. She was at Massey High School and she was a very tall girl with her hair in braids. I thought she was beautiful, even then, and maybe too old to be dressed in ugly school uniform because she had the body of a woman, but dressed like a kid! She wasn't in my class, but we were in the same year. She was always having fun and going to parties and stuff, but it wasn't until later after that we met properly.
She had a tough time at school. I heard things, and then one day a girl said Iraena's gone to the mental hospital and the whole school was shocked and horrified. How could that happen? I don't know. I don't even know what happened as I wasn't in her class but something had gone wrong. Iraena never told me, only the time she was at Starship she learnt a lot and found out who her real friends were.
Later on I got sick and found out we had the same thing, called bi-polar disorder (or manic depression). Mine was every bit as horrible and confusing and nasty and terrible as hers but luckily I didn't have to go into hospital at that time, just at home with nurses coming round, or visits to the clinic and also I did find out who my real friends were too. Some people couldn't handle it, and I did some crazy things.
I was hoping and praying I'd meet someone 'just like me'. So one day the social worker came and said she found someone and there was Iraena. She had a big smile on her face and we talked and ate chocolate biscuits. We became friends.
Well anyway I don't want to make this obituary too long because I have to go to work soon and will tell you more later but we did do some fun things together. We were like sisters (even though she already had 3 of her own) and I miss her very much. I am very sad that the call-taker never understood how scared she was that night and didn't realise how a phone call could have saved her life, how important it is to pronounce Maori correctly (Piha, not Paihia) how when someone asks for help you give it, you find the time. And how she loves her family and wants them to be happy and not grieve too much just to celebrate what a wonderful person she was.
Please, if you have any information on the night of the so-called party please post here. Iraena was NOT drugged, those other people were on P and I don't think they knew what they were doing. Iraena has told her family that she was taken out to sea but I must stress that this is serious, ladies and girls you must keep yourself safe when you go out, and you can't always rely on others, not even on the Police, only on yourself.
