When her eldest son was three, Leanne Dole moved to the Southern Highlands from Sydney because it was easier to access the specialist early intervention and pre-school needed for his autism than it was in the city.
When he was five, Mrs Dole said her son Blake was diagnosed with epilepsy by the "wonderful" medical staff at the Bowral and District Hospital children's ward.
Now aged eight, Mrs Dole said Blake has a preliminary diagnosis of Crone's disease on top of his diagnosed epilepsy and autism.
If the Bowral Hospital children's ward were to fail its accreditation next year and be forced to close, it would have a devastating impact on Mrs Dole and her family.
She said the staff at the hospital were a great support unit and they made themselves available to her whenever she needed help.
"They have a very wonderful, caring nature with all their patients," Mrs Dole said.
"To me, not having the children's ward would be a very bad thing. People rely on the children's ward. For children like Blake, it makes life easier. Without it we would have to go to Camden, Campbelltown or Liverpool, and it would take at least 45 minutes to get help."
[Full story: SHN, Friday, December 30, 2005]
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