Calling emergency services to help their mother is the ‘norm’ for five year old Aoife and her two year old sister Kiera.
Berwick’s Lindsey Forsyth was diagnosed with a debilitating condition called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) and Neurally Mediated Hypotension.
Three years ago she was a special needs teacher, could run 10km and regularly participated in the Berwick Springs Park Run.
Now she can barely function independently.
“I can’t shower without help and some days I need help after going to the toilet,” she said.
“Some days I can just about manage to get my two girls dressed and out for school run.
“Before January I relied on Aoife to contact 000 if I was unconscious. Now she is in Prep we have an SOS medical alert button that we have taught her two year old sister to press.”
The alert button sends an alert to Ms Forsyth’s husband, Paul Forsyth.
During her second pregnancy at 30 weeks, she collapsed and was told that she would have to finish work early.
Her cardiologist and obstetrician believed that the cause of the collapse was due to the pressure of pregnancy and would alleviate once the baby arrived.
That wasn’t the case. The symptoms did not alleviate and have continued to worsen over the last 18 months with Ms Forsyth unable to return to work.
In November 2017 she collapsed at home while Mr Forsyth was at work.
Aoife and Kiera were at home with her and Aoife called an ambulance. She performed CPR as her mother’s heart had stopped.
This is what the children have witnessed many times in the last 12 months.
“My girls are very calm and know what to do when it happens and sadly this has become their normal,” Ms Forsyth said.
“I have recently heard them playing with PJ masks and will say “Oh no Catboy has collapsed, press the black button and get the ambulance!”’
“It is good that they don’t realise the enormity of the situation but makes me sad that they have to go through this on a regular basis.”
Mr Forsyth is constantly worried and feels anxious when he receives the alert, wondering whether his wife and children are OK.
“Safety has become the biggest concern. I have hit my head more times than I want to think about,” she said.
“My husband also finds it quite scary; he says as much as he knows what it is and knows what happens he will never get used to finding his wife unconscious on the floor unresponsive.”
She collapsed last week while collecting Aoife from school.
She went in and out of consciousness constantly for about 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived.
Since, she has been at the cardiac care unit in hospital. Over 10 days she has experienced nine losses of consciousness.
“It is a battle and I struggle to stay positive but that is my only option, I smile and try to use humour to help me through but it isn’t easy,” she said.
“When your five year old says “Mummy I wish that you wouldn’t faint again and then you can be a normal mummy like all the other mums!” It’s tough.
“Then Kiera was leaving the hospital yesterday and asked “Daddy will mummy be here forever?”’
Ms Forsyth has been assessed for a medical alert dog and is hoping to meet with the trainer soon.
The family is raising funds as they believe medically they are at the end of the line.
To donate, visit https://www.gofundme.com/medical-alert-dog-amp-pots-treatment.
