Our family has proudly called the Robe community home for the past 17 years. We've lived an active outdoor lifestyle, enjoying camping, fishing, water skiing, hiking, and netball while running a small business. As a family of five, we’ve always faced life’s challenges together, but now we find ourselves confronting an unimaginable one.

In late 2024, our 16-year-old daughter, Stella, was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS is a debilitating condition that causes a significant increase in heart rate upon standing, leading to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and light-headedness. It is linked to damage in the small fibre nerves, which regulate blood vessel constriction in the limbs and abdomen. As her condition progresses, these symptoms have only worsened, leaving Stella unable to live the active, fulfilling life she once had.

Stella is an incredibly resilient young woman. She’s in Year 12, currently serving as school captain at Lucindale Area School, and is pursuing a Certificate III in Agriculture. Stella is also the Young Rural Ambassador for the Lucindale Show, with aspirations of competing for the title of Young Rural Ambassador for South Australia. But today, she can no longer attend school or participate in the activities she loves. Her health has deteriorated to the point where she is often bedridden, struggling with constant medical episodes.

Her journey began in September 2023 when she fainted while working in the cattle yards at just 14 years old. Since then, our family has endured a terrifying year of frequent collapses, hospital visits, and emergency ambulance rides, but we are still searching for answers. The medical system has not been able to provide the care Stella desperately needs. Despite numerous hospital visits, doctors remain baffled, offering little more than temporary relief. Stella’s symptoms now include constant nerve pain, tachycardia, low blood pressure, leg tremors, chronic stomach pain, and persistent headaches. These episodes have forced her to withdraw from family activities, sport, social events, and her education.

Watching Stella endure these daily struggles has been heart-wrenching. As parents, it’s devastating to see our daughter so unwell and feel so helpless in trying to manage her illness. The emotional toll on our family has been profound, with the uncertainty of her condition weighing heavily on us all.

On top of the emotional stress, the financial burden of Stella’s condition has placed an overwhelming strain on our family. The costs of ongoing medical care, specialist appointments, and emergency travel continue to escalate. We are now seeking help from an interstate Functional Medical Team, who have agreed to provide the testing and treatment that we hope will finally offer answers and much-needed care. This gives us hope that Stella may be able to receive the treatment she desperately needs to regain her health.

However, as a young family with three children, we’ve exhausted all our financial resources in the search for answers. This opportunity for treatment is our last hope, but we can’t afford it on our own. That’s why we are reaching out to you—our community—for help.

We are humbly asking for your support to help cover the costs of medical expenses, specialist care, and travel. Your generosity will make it possible for Stella to access the treatment she desperately needs, and it will bring us one step closer to helping her regain a normal life.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story. Any support you can offer, whether financial or in spreading the word, will mean the world to us. We are forever grateful for your kindness and support.

Laura, Brad, Stella and family