Welcome to our Sensitive Hearts Support Group.

This support group came after discovering that we had a rare heart disorder known as Long QT Syndrome in our family.

This condition is not well known. We hope to change that, and make the doctors and general public aware of what exactly Long QT syndrome is. We had never heard of it and so had no idea just how serious this condition is.

After speaking to others about LQTS, we discovered that no one had heard of it either.

We felt very isolated and alone and did not know anyone else with this disorder.

It took us three years to get the correct diagnosis of why our children were suffering fainting spells (syncope).

Upon finding out about LQTS and having ongoing treatment, all of our affected children have been well, we have had no further episodes of fainting.

We feel that now is the time to try and help educate others as to what this condition is.

Why are our children fainting?

AICD/PACEMAKER SUPPORT GROUP IN ADELAIDE:

Rondelle was diagnosed with LQT when she was 24, after having symptoms & being misdiagnosed for 8 years, culminating in 2 cardiac arrests within a few hours in July 2002. She had a pace-maker/ defibrillator implanted. After meeting a group of other "younger" ladies at the AICD Support Group set up by the hospital & finding that young females are in the minority of patients, they formed their own small group and meet up for lunch every month - some bring along their partners and/ or children as they have also been affected by what's happened to their loved ones. Sadly Rondelle lost her 16-year-old brother to LQT in May 2003, despite him being treated for the condition.

Further details please contact:
Rondelle Oster Ph: 08 8263 3507
Email: rondelleo@yahoo.com.au

SUPPORT CONTACT PEOPLE:

VICTORIA
WERRIBEE Joy Toffalon. Ph (03) 9731 1508
BRYALONG Pat Jaques. Ph (03) 5145 8287
BOX HILL STH: Steve & Jenny Jewell Ph (03) 9808 1969
KEYSBOROUGH:
ELTHAM: Debbie MacLaren (03) 9439 5657
Email:n&dmaclaren@beyondtech.net

N.S.W.
BERKELEY VALE Sandra Heaton (02) 4388 5813
Email:heatonaus@netscape.net
MANAI Vicki McGuffie (02) 9543 9524
Email:vmcguffie@yahoo.com.au
SEAHAM Jennefer Booth (02) 4988 6364
Email:booth@kooee.com.au

ACT
LATHAM: Beth Collins (02) 6254 0212
Email:tom-beth@goldweb.com.au

QLD
CLIFTON BEACH Emily Gluskie (04) 1979 3379
Email:Emily@reefhouse.com.au
WYNNUM NTH. Samantha Deveson

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
NEDLANDS: June Barnes Ph (08) 9386 4113
Email:bbarnes@iinet.com.au
FORRESTFIELD: Wendy Routhan Ph (08) 9359 1429
BOORAGOON: Anne Kay (08) 9364 4109
Email:tiko@iinet.net.au
HOCKING: Maree Ellis (08) 9405 4740
Email:billysplumbing@hotmail.com

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:


TASMANIA:
MARGATE: Roslyn Cavill Ph (03) 6267 1733
Email:recavill@bigpond.com.au

NEW ZEALAND:
KAWERAU Maree Kingi
Email:mare.baz.co.nz@xtra.co.nz
CHRISTCHURCH: John & Katrina Grimwood Ph (03) 3526 479
Email:johkat@zfree.co.nz
LOWER HUTT: Phillipa Buck Ph (04) 9703399
Email: pippamb@yahoo.com
INVERCARGILL: Sue Tairi (03) 216 3779
AUCKLAND: Adele Clayton
Email: theclaytons@xtra.nz