On April 13th 2003 Guy Addison will be running the Flora London Marathon in memory of Madeleine
Guy’s online sponsorship page
If you would like to help to support his incredible efforts please email Hugh and Jane on [email protected]
Madeleine was the only daughter of Hugh and Jane Mulcahey. She was a fit, active and vivacious child. She both looked and behaved as if she was older than her two years and five months. Madeleine loved to sing songs, to paint and to play with her toy kitchen. Most of all she loved to go for a walk in the wind and the rain and to name all the plants and animals she could find.
Before her death Madeleine had hardly ever been unwell. It was unusual for her to have as much as a runny nose. A week before she died her parents had their annual Christmas party. Madeleine, who had a cold, was a little quieter than usual but was, as usual, a source of delight to friends and relatives.
Concerned about her cold, and at the risk of being seen as a crank, Jane took Madeleine to the doctor three times in the month before she died. The three doctors who examined her all concluded that she had a cold and was otherwise fine.
On the 16 December 2000 Madeleine developed breathing difficulties and was taken to the local District Hospital. She was treated for an asthma attack. Following treatment with steroids and drugs to assist her breathing she died of heart failure in the early hours of 17 December.
No one could explain Madeleine’s sudden death. A post mortem eventually revealed that the cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy. Despite months of tests none of the many consultants involved in her case were able to determine why she had this condition. Both Hugh and Jane have been screened and found not to have the same condition.
