LEONIE GABRIELLE FALLOON    

12-23-71 ~ 6-13-95

CS-1

Leonie was born on Dec. 23, 1971.  She weighed 8 Ibs. 5 ozs. and was 24" long.  All went fine and she. was walking around the furniture at 1O months, but didn't progress with her walking.  We first took her to the doctor in March 1974 because of her poor walking.

Looking back, her skin was sensitive, but we didn't think anything of it.  Anyway, she was thought to have been brain damaged at birth (she was induced and distressed during birth). She had a. tottery walk and a tremor in her hands.

She went to a special school at 4 3/4 yrs. and had her first asthma attack in Jan. 1977. She learned to control the hand tremor so she could draw pictures, paint, write and sew. The sewing was only simple stitches on Binka, but she loved it.  It certainly kept her going the many times she was in the hospital because of the asthma as that got worse.  At first, she was on Ventolin syrup only when necessary.  Later, she had Intal by spinhaler plus Ventolin and then a Nebulizer for Becotide and Ventolin.

Leonie was eventually diagnosed with CS type 1 when she was 7.5 years old after extensive tests in the hospital.  She began going deaf at approximately 8 years, eventually wore aids in both ears and her hearing finally went completely when she was 15 years old.  Up to then, we could converse quite well with her and she with us.  Her speech e-ventually deteriorated so much that life in general was quite difficult to put it mildly.

Leonie never learned to read although she tried hard enough.  Her writing was copying.  She loved to draw pictures, but it wasn't until she was six or seven that we could get her to use colours and not just black or brown, goodness knows why!  Anyway, she was quite imaginative and filled books at a great pace.  She loved craft work at school and could come home and explain to us how to do things.  We found she had various allergies: cats, dogs, horses, house dust and grass pollen. It didn't help that her grandparents had a farm that was full of them. Poor Leonie was virtually banned from everything.  Even when her elder sister, Jeannie, had been riding, her clothes had to be kept away from aLeonie.

Leonie left school at 16 years.  Things had become very difficult because of her total hearing loss.  To be honest, if it had been us, we would have had a nervous breadkown.  She got in such a state going to school.  She had also begun to wear glasses when she was a-bout ten.  What a performance trying to keep her hearing aids in and her specs on as her ears were so small, her neck short and she hunched her shoulders when busy!

Leonie had a good-sense of humour and was kind and thoughtful of others. Unfortunately, much of this was sort of lost due to her lack of hearing, Parkinson's Disease and signs of dementia.

Leonie's asthma had been very good since she left school, although she was in Intensive Care on a respirator for three days in Nov. 1987.  She amazed everyone by holding her own when they managed to get her off the respirator.  Her teeth have been a problem.  Her first teeth were over calcified.  Then her second ones were too big for her mouth and she had to have six out at about 8 yrs. to make room for others. They eventually all had be be removed.

Leonie used to be able to walk quite long distances holding my hand or pushing a dolls pram and could even deliver written messages from class to class unaided at school.  She would do her best at PE, while at school, using various apparatus and was also in the school sports.  The obstacle race was a sight to behold, but she made it!!

Leonie was no pushover.  She would do something if she wanted to, but could be firm otherwise.  She would sing when Jeannie was listening to music or stand in front of the player and work it hei — self (at full volume!)  At school, if she wasn't interested in the lesson, she would turn her hearing aids off! or, if she didn't want her dinner, would quietly give it to someone else until the staff realized what was going on.

Leonie became very restricted in life because of her condition, however, . we couldn't keep her still. She loved to be out and about, especially to the shops for more soft toys!

Leonie had begun to lose weight in 1994, so we had a G-tube fitted on March 27, 1995.  It was tough going for all of us because of the sleepless nights as her body tried to cope with this "thing" called "food" and nourishment.  Her weight in Dec. 1994 was 12.35kg. and after only eight weeks on the G-tube, her weight had gotten up to 13.45kg. (=2st. 1lb. 1O1/zOZ.)  Her height was 3' 2)4".

On June 12, 1995, she went into the hospital for dental treatment under a general anesthetic.  She never woke up and Vent to sleep in death on June 13th.  Leonie didn't feel any pain at all and just slept on like a baby.  Aspiration of gastric content w.as given as the cause of death.

Over the years, the hope of seeing her completely fit and well under our Heavenly FatherJehoyahs Kingdom rule by Jesus Christ has been close to my heart.  Each problem that raised its head for her will soon be put right and now I look forward to her resurrection when she is restored to us here on Earth.

(Isa. 35:3-6 & Rev. 21:3-5)