This our story, not very often told to anyone mainly due the reactions of disbelief it causes. The many different locations involved where due to my being in the Defence Forces.

Our story begins in 1979 in Wagga Wagga in NSW where we lived with our two children, Brett 9 and Kirsty 6; Kirsty had a near drowning incident in a neighbour's pool. She was found unconscious on the bottom of a 1 metre deep pool, hospitalised and recovered after a few days. We moved to Townsville QLD in 1980/81 where we stayed in a Motel for while with a swimming pool. We were enjoying the pool when Kirsty suddenly went unconscious in front of me and sank to the bottom. I immediately removed her; she fitted and recovered shortly after. Doctors diagnosed a form of epilepsy. Naturally we trusted this diagnosis and she was treated accordingly.

Later that year Brett was involved with school swimming activity, he was found unconscious on the bottom of a swimming pool during the activity. Quick action by students and staff saved the day and he seemed to suffer no ill effects. In September Brett was having a bout of bronchial infection, he collapsed and died. Cause of death officially was inhalation of vomit.

December that year we went to Canberra for Christmas as we usually did, as this is where our family ties were. (Brett was buried here too). A couple of days before Christmas, Kirsty collapsed in the back yard of a friends place whilst playing. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, hospital staff and doctors, she died and was buried with her brother. Despite some investigations nothing was suspected or found to link the deaths at this point.

We moved to Canberra and decided to try for more children to fill the void left by Brett and Kirsty. Along came Kalinda in 1984 and Tegan in 1985, 18 months apart. We moved to Brisbane and then Sydney in 1986/7. Kalinda was in pre primary, teachers rang us one day to say that she had collapsed whilst playing; it was put down to the hot humid day. Doctors looked at the epilepsy thing again… No mention of long QT yet.

We moved to Perth, stayed in motel with kiddie's pool. You guessed it, Kalinda, now aged 4, collapsed in the water right under my nose. Luckily a doctor was there at the time. She was rushed to PMH, where she was placed in intensive care and answers started to appear. This mysterious thing called Romano Ward Syndrome was diagnosed. Never heard of it? What is it? We know now don't we.

We were subsequently all checked for the signs and cleared. Kalinda was placed on Beta-blockers and we were advised to try to keep her on sedentary activities. Not much chance there, Kalinda was always active; there was no stopping her even though she understood her affliction. At 12/13 she became actively involved with women's soccer. Everyone she was associated with new of her problem and what they should do if anything was to happen.

All was well except for a couple of times when she realised that something wasn't quite right and avoided any ill happening. To date, March 2004, at age 19, she has been very active with sport and recreational activities including TAFE coursed to this end. I don't think the Cardiologist was all that happy with her lifestyle but he went along as she seemed to be alright with her medication.

In late February this year she collapsed and fitted at soccer training, it was hot and humid and everyone tried to minimise and other wise move the blame somewhere else. She recovered quickly but we were all very worried, she went to see her cardiologist. He decided that the time had come to implant an AICD. Once was too often, we were lucky. We all knew that no one was going to slow Kalinda down so this was the best possible insurance and peace of mind for us all.

She had the device implanted on 4 March; she was out and about in days, back to TAFE and everything as normal except that she did avoid training and such for while. She had the procedure done under local anaesthetic and talked the surgeon deaf during the operation. (I told you we couldn't slow her down her!) Naturally she was very apprehensive at first, but knowing that she was in good hands and that this would give her the peace of mind to maintain her lifestyle she settled to the idea. We now have some emotional problems to deal with, understandably, but everyone is very supportive and understanding. We will move on, 6 monthly checks and reprogramming of our bionic girl, we are going to be here for a long time.

Linton and Gundi, WA