She was in the care of a family who had 3 other
children with disabilities.
I could no longer look after her and my second husband
had cared for her for 10 years. He believed he had a
life of his to live and I agreed.
My back had also had it so I could no longer lift her
because of my continuous back pain.

It was a Monday morning, 16th December, 2002 and it was going to be
a stinker of a day 39 degrees. Most of Fiona's birthdays in
January were held on extreme heat days.
I had a phone call from the carer Noni. She yelled at me to
go to Flinders Medical Centre because Fiona was in a critical
condition. If you don't hurry it may be too late.
I didn't know what to do. I had no car, my husband drove to
work every day. I was in a frenzy.
I rang Brian to tell him to meet me at the Flinders Medical Centre.
I then had to ring for a taxi who took forever to come and pick me
up.

I wanted to stop at a deli to get a drink because my mouth was dry
from medications I took.
At first he said he wouldn't stop, then he relented.
When I finally arrived at the hospital, I was frantic. I didn't
know where to go, I was numb.
I was shown to a room where a volunteer sat and she told me that
I could go and see Fiona when the doctors had finished.

The doctors finally came out and when I saw their faces, I knew!
"I'm so sorry, but there was nothing we could do. Would you
like a few moments with her?"
I couldn't believe what I was hearing! My own daughter, my eldest
had died!
I braced myself and opened the door. My daughter lay there, Fiona
never just layed there! She was always constantly moving.
I just stared and stared. Finally I walked over to her and she looked
so at peace. I held her hand and stroked her forehead.
I cried so much my heart broke.

Brian had finally arrived at the hospital and he came into the room.
He tried to comfort me as best as he could. He shed tears too because
he did love her as his own.

Her Dad came to the hospital and I told him where she was.
His face when he came out, crumpled, and he came up to me and I hugged
him.

The police arrived and told me that the carer wasn't negligent in any way,
that she had done all she could.
Like hell she had!

Fiona was always an early riser 5.30am and often tried to dress herself.
Bras she couldn't do up nor put on her socks but she could put a top and
pants on.
She had gone out to the lounge and saw the unfolded clothes on the couch.
Picking one up she took it back to her room and tried to put it on.
It was too small for her and it had become stuck. She choked and died!
I'll never forgive that woman for not going into Fiona sooner. It was
9.00am before she did and it was a stinking hot day. Fiona should have
been given a drink before then.
If the woman had put away the washing, Fiona would be alive today.

She had the audacity to come to the funeral and when she came up to Mandy
and I, there was no way I was going to accept her sympathy. I turned
the other way and she knew by my look I'd never forgive her.
A parent should never have to bury their child.

Fiona gave us so much joy a lot of heartache but she was worth every moment
even giving me more physical pain I would have done it all over again.