First born, Samantha Cole, was born two weeks late at QE2, Brisbane. The labour didn't go well, Samantha developed foetal distress and we were rushed into surgery for a caesarian section.Three days later Sam wasn't responding to antibiotics and seemed to be deteriorating so she was transferred to the Mater Mother's Hospital (Brisbane) for tests. Finally the doctors came back with the diagnosis, they had an idea that she may have a rare metabolic condition called "3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A lyase deficiency". !!!!???? It was no coincidence that Dr Frank Bowling happened to be studying that particular enzyme at that time.

<INSERT IMAGE HERE>
Samantha, Jake and Thumpa

With the help of Dr Bowling, Dr Vance, Dr McGill, Dr Mellick and many other people involved along the way, Samantha has developed into a healthy, bright teenager. She had numerous hospital visits when she was little with tonsilitus, and meningitis at 18 months. We had a scare when she was 5 when she contracted gastroenteritis in Vanuatu and we admitted her to hospital. We were told they wouldn't put a drip in until the next day until the doctor was satisfied that she was 'really' sick. Meanwhile, Dr Vance was frantically organizing a jet on standby to come and get her. I spent the day and night forcing Samantha to drink glucose and she came through the illness very well indeed.

In the confusion and excitiment of coping without any medical aid (it was our first time with a 'serious' illness) we omitted contacting poor Dr Vance to let him know that Sam was O.K (no news is good news right)!!!??? She hadn't been sick for 6 years or so then last year she went into the Mater Childrens Hospital (Brisbane) for a weeks visit.

I do tend to get a bit complacent, I have to read through my literature every now and then to bring myself back up to date with my daughter's condition. She is so well and vibrant most of the time it can get a bit scary when she becomes unwell. She's a wonderful daughter, musically talented (flute and singing), literature is her passion, not athletic but will have a go at anything and an average student.

<INSERT IMAGE HERE>
Sam and Jake hiding in the cornfields

Nicky Cole - May 2002