years old. They had been seeing a genetic counsellor to determine the odds of having another child with a disability, yet no definitive answer could be given. So they went ahead, feeling optimistic that this time their child would be healthy and normal. The geneticist was disapproving, feeling they were irresponsible for choosing to risk a pregnancy until given the all-clear. That could have taken years.
Lynne had a healthy pregnancy; the baby appeared one hundred percent fit in routine ultrasounds. Lynne and Ethan declined an amniocentesis at eighteen weeks because of the risk of miscarriage. This test is routinely used to check for genetic and congenital disorders, and was recommended by the geneticist. Again their decision was frowned upon. Confident in their own judgement they went ahead with a homebirth under the supervision of a midwife. Caius was born blissfully, without the slightest complication. It was such a joyful moment after what had been a tough few years.
During the course of Isabellaâs treatment her parents also declined surgical intervention. There is an operation that can prevent a childfrom vomiting; called fundoplication, it literally means that the upper curve of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus and stitched. Ethan and Lynne talked to a lot of people about this procedure, sought second and third opinions and decided, ultimately, that it would make Isabellaâs life more miserable because of the long periods of unrelieved nausea that would result. There was criticism of this decision.
They certainly were never opposed to surgical procedures per se â indeed last year she underwent a quite risky removal of her tonsils and adenoids in the hope it would help her breathe more easily. It was a success. But a recent operation under a general anaesthetic to remove some baby teeth which had become embedded in her gums resulted in a serious bout of pneumonia because she inhaled fluid at some point during the procedure. So everything brings a risk and therefore the decision to âinterveneâ is at times a very troubling one.
Itâs my belief that parents should be listened to with much greater respect by the medical profession. Their decisions about the care of their child should also be honoured. There can be prejudice against young parents and there is sometimes an arrogant view that âdoctor knows best.â The doctor isnât the one getting up to the disabled child three times a night, or cradling them when they become distressed with constipation (from the medication) or bouts of violent vomiting.
Fortunately the vast majority of the specialists and paediatricians and nurses have been fantastic and have recognised the devotion with which Ethan and Lynne care for their precious daughter. Indeed the head nursing sister at our local hospital, where they used to take Isabella when they lived at the farm, told me they were the most wonderful parents she had encountered in all her decades of paediatric nursing. All we could do was give them our unqualified support in the knowledge that all their actions were directed at making Isabellaâs life as happy and comfortable as possible. Watching them cope with her continuing problems was certainly a reality check for me, balanced as it was against the more superficial and trivial aspects of my life and career.
8
Perhaps the Channel 9 executive had spoken the truth when he told me the daytime chat show would eventually go ahead, for one day in 2006 an email popped up in my inbox from the networkâs casting director, Henrie Stride. I assumed Henrie was a bloke, but she turned out to be a warm and friendly young woman, who told me the network was developing a new show, and that she wanted me to come in for an interview with Mia Freedman, the networkâs creative services director. Was this
The Watercooler
reincarnated, or something completely different? I was intrigued, and agreed to a meeting the following week.
I
Lynne had a healthy pregnancy; the baby appeared one hundred percent fit in routine ultrasounds. Lynne and Ethan declined an amniocentesis at eighteen weeks because of the risk of miscarriage. This test is routinely used to check for genetic and congenital disorders, and was recommended by the geneticist. Again their decision was frowned upon. Confident in their own judgement they went ahead with a homebirth under the supervision of a midwife. Caius was born blissfully, without the slightest complication. It was such a joyful moment after what had been a tough few years.
During the course of Isabellaâs treatment her parents also declined surgical intervention. There is an operation that can prevent a childfrom vomiting; called fundoplication, it literally means that the upper curve of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus and stitched. Ethan and Lynne talked to a lot of people about this procedure, sought second and third opinions and decided, ultimately, that it would make Isabellaâs life more miserable because of the long periods of unrelieved nausea that would result. There was criticism of this decision.
They certainly were never opposed to surgical procedures per se â indeed last year she underwent a quite risky removal of her tonsils and adenoids in the hope it would help her breathe more easily. It was a success. But a recent operation under a general anaesthetic to remove some baby teeth which had become embedded in her gums resulted in a serious bout of pneumonia because she inhaled fluid at some point during the procedure. So everything brings a risk and therefore the decision to âinterveneâ is at times a very troubling one.
Itâs my belief that parents should be listened to with much greater respect by the medical profession. Their decisions about the care of their child should also be honoured. There can be prejudice against young parents and there is sometimes an arrogant view that âdoctor knows best.â The doctor isnât the one getting up to the disabled child three times a night, or cradling them when they become distressed with constipation (from the medication) or bouts of violent vomiting.
Fortunately the vast majority of the specialists and paediatricians and nurses have been fantastic and have recognised the devotion with which Ethan and Lynne care for their precious daughter. Indeed the head nursing sister at our local hospital, where they used to take Isabella when they lived at the farm, told me they were the most wonderful parents she had encountered in all her decades of paediatric nursing. All we could do was give them our unqualified support in the knowledge that all their actions were directed at making Isabellaâs life as happy and comfortable as possible. Watching them cope with her continuing problems was certainly a reality check for me, balanced as it was against the more superficial and trivial aspects of my life and career.
8
Perhaps the Channel 9 executive had spoken the truth when he told me the daytime chat show would eventually go ahead, for one day in 2006 an email popped up in my inbox from the networkâs casting director, Henrie Stride. I assumed Henrie was a bloke, but she turned out to be a warm and friendly young woman, who told me the network was developing a new show, and that she wanted me to come in for an interview with Mia Freedman, the networkâs creative services director. Was this
The Watercooler
reincarnated, or something completely different? I was intrigued, and agreed to a meeting the following week.
I
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