The Australasian Tuberous Sclerosis Society

We had a proud moment recently when Jack was asked to captain the 10+under Northampton Rams Junior Football team for a game. His chest was puffed and our smiles were wide.

It has been a very long time since we have had contact with ATSS, although we still join up as members every year and receive the Reach Out magazine. We attended two family conferences in 1998 and 1999 and enjoyed meeting and talking with other families who had a child with TSC.

Jack was first diagnosed with Tuberous Sclerosis at 12 months after suffering seizures. These were immediately controlled by Tegretol, which after three years we stopped and Jack has remained seizure free. He had physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy from 18 months and still continues to have OT support in the classroom once a week.

Jack is now 9, turning 10 in July and is attending mainstream schooling in Year 5.
Jack plays basketball, tennis, cricket and football (aussie rules). Jack is a sports fanatic, always out the back throwing hoops, hitting a tennis ball or bowling at my hanging baskets - my garden takes the brunt of Jack's sporting enthusiasm.

We had a proud moment recently when Jack was asked to captain the 10+under Northampton Rams Junior Football team for a game. His chest was puffed and our smiles were wide. The team won it's first game on that day, making the moment all the more sweeter. He won best team man for his team last year and displays his trophy for all to see!!

Although Jack has poor muscle tone and his coordination isn't the best (he suffers his fair share of knocks on and off the sporting field) - his love for sport gives him the determination and commitment to keep practising hard. He is aiming for the captaincy of his beloved Fremantle Dockers football team.

We think ATSS is doing a wonderful job and enjoy reading Reach Out and keeping up to date with latest research and information.

Thank you for your support in our first few years as TSC parents, it was definately a roller-coaster ride for a while, but has settled into a slow and steady progress of Jack's development. I'm sure we will still experience a few heartaches on this road, but had to share our proud moment with you all.