“Everything Turned to Custard” Andrew’s Story of Finding His Way Back

We met Andrew in a small room at Presbyterian Support Otago. When he arrived to share his story, he made sure his social worker, Sarah (who works at Presbyterian Support Otago) was free to be there with him.

Andrew wanted Sarah beside him because telling this story felt like a way of paying it forward, a way to honour the support he’d received, and to help others know where to turn when life falls apart.

He began with a half-laugh:
“I think Sarah needed a back brace after dealing with me – I needed carrying a lot.”

Last August, Andrew walked into Presbyterian Support Otago (PSO) after his world had collapsed. Years of work as a truck driver had left him with carpal tunnel in both wrists, forcing him to stop working. His ACC claim had been accepted, but the process slowed, and income compensation did not begin when it was urgently needed. Without wages or compensation, everything quickly stalled: there was no money for food or phone credit, and growing pressure from his mortgage and rates. He had been paying down his home in the hope of retiring early. Instead, he was in pain, unable to work, and facing the fear of losing everything.

His mental health plummeted. He loved his dog but even feeding her became a daily crisis. Through that fog, he started considering putting the dog down – not because he wanted to, but because he couldn’t see another way. When Sarah suggested that losing his dog could further affect his mental health, Andrew took her advice to heart and, despite how hard it was, kept moving forward in search of other solutions.

It was after visiting the Citizens Advice Bureau that Andrew was referred to PSO – where he met Sarah, the social worker on duty that day.

“It was major. I didn’t expect what I got. Sarah listened to me.”

“I told Sarah that everything had turned to custard.”

Sarah got to work immediately – advocating on Andrew’s behalf, pushing for the ACC claim to progress, and clarifying the seriousness of the situation. She also contacted ANZ for a mortgage holiday, and the DCC about his rates.

Andrew said, “Sarah took over. I couldn’t cope with all those tasks in front of me anymore.”
Andrew later described those early weeks as a “90% / 10% relationship,” with Sarah carrying most of the load.
Sarah was quick to push back. She reminded him that he always answered her calls, turned up to appointments, filled out the forms, and did the tasks — even on days when his hands shook too much to sign his name.

Andrew agreed. “Yeah — that’s true. But if you help me, I’ll do my best to hold up my end of the bargain.”

The turning point came when ACC was finally resolved and a back payment came through. With finances stabilised, the crisis pressure lifted. Andrew engaged with Michael, one of PSO’s financial mentors; contacted DCC to pay his rates; renegotiated his mortgage with ANZ; and finally bought groceries, cleaning products, dog food, “ice cream and chips too.”

He began to rebuild; repainting the house, tending the garden, meeting with a real estate agent. He doesn’t have a caravan yet, but is planning for a future travelling around Aotearoa: “I’m quite excited about it to be honest.” He has now had surgery on one wrist, with the other scheduled soon.

Reflecting on those first days at Presbyterian Support Otago, Andrew admitted, “I didn’t think PSO had the power to do much… I thought maybe PSO would be more about religion, but it wasn’t. It was amazing.”

And then his voice broke again “it was the lowest I’ve been in my life. I don’t think I’d be around today if it wasn’t for walking through the doors at PSO.” To Sarah: “I genuinely believe that you saved my life”.

Andrew’s experience reflects the kaupapa of PSO. Rather than taking over, Sarah worked alongside him in a way that respected his pace and capacity, allowing progress to unfold through their mahi together.

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