Our oldest daughter, Jennifer, married Bill on June 14, 1994. On July 17, 1996 our first grandchild was born. Austin Christopher... big blue eyes, small weight, but healthy. Just before his 1st birthday he developed allergies and asthma. By this time I was already giving him sugar treats (juices, popsicles, suckers, etc). I always had a treat for him and saw him almost daily.

On November 18, 1999, Alyssa Jenna-Ann was born - a beautiful baby with red hair and big blue eyes, very healthy: On July 19, 2000, Jennifer and the kids spent the night with us. Austin woke the next morning with a temp and an earache…. Later that day he was put on an antibiotic. During the late night, Bill woke with vomiting and diarrhea and by early morning, I too had it and a bit later so did my husband.

The next day Alyssa started vomiting, but by evening she had kept down 2 bottles of pedialyte. She had her bath, played, and went to bed normally. In the morning Jennifer and Austin went into her room to get her up, but she was in a comatose state. They rushed her to the hospital, but she died 20 minutes later - July 22, 2000. It was so hard to hold her lifeless body and tell her goodbye.

For 6 months we thought she died from SUDS (Sudden Unexplained Death), then the autopsy report came back - MCADD. Jennifer, Bill and Austin were immediately tested. Through Austin's urine test it was confirmed that he too had MCADD.

A coroner from London, Ontario came to Windsor and spoke with Jennifer and Bill. The information given to them came from the FOD web site. I am so grateful for this site and to those who share their stories. The doctors are very unaware of this disorder and unable to answer our questions, but to read the stories of those that survive are very encouraging and uplifting...and to the little angels that don't make it, it's up to us to spread their message.

Austin is now on L-carnitine 4 times a day and the doctors in London are keeping a close eye on him. They say that the sugar treats I gave him, helped get him this far with no incidents.

Jennifer became pregnant in October of 2000 and gave birth to a healthy little girl on July 25, 2001. When she was born the hospital kept her in the ICU and treated her as if she had MCADD until they could get her test results back. Her name is Jaiden and she is a carrier but does not have MCADD.

Nana (Dorene)

Click here to visit Alyssa's web site.

Alyssa
~ November 1999 - July 2000

Austin and Alyssa
Austin was diagnosed with MCADD after Alyssa's death

Alyssa, Jaiden and Austin
Jaiden - carrier of MCADD