A Warrnambool couple has made a heartfelt plea for the person who stole their 19-month-old son’s heart condition medicine to return it.
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David Dow said his son, Malachi, was born with pulmonary hypertension and chronic lung disease and desperately needed his medication.
The medication, sildenafil, is sent from the Royal Children’s Hospital and delivered via Australia Post to their Ryan Court house. “Australia Post have said it was delivered at 2pm yesterday,” Mr Dow said.
“As far as we know it’s been stolen and we need it desperately.
“It would be no good to anyone else but it is so valuable to our son.”
Malachi is required to take the medicine three times a day.
Mr Dow said his son was born prematurely by emergency caesarian with pulmonary hypertension and is on oxygen for his lungs 24 hours a day. He spent seven months in the Royal Children’s Hospital before he was able to return home.
His mother, Stacey, said Malachi was a miracle and the loss of medicine had been very upsetting.
“It’s very unusual for it not to be dropped off,” she said. “This is a nightmare. This isn’t just a present, it’s his medication.”
“This medication evens out his heart rate,” Mr Dow said.
“It’s trial medication which he has been on since he was born.
“It’s costing us money that we don’t have. It’s something that we can’t afford.”
Mr Dow said they were down to one day’s worth of medication before they ran out and he plans to go to Melbourne today to get more.
“A delivery can take three to five days to get here,” Mr Dow said. “It’s no good to anyone.”
