Rural teen's POTS diagnosis highlights gaps in awareness and care
A 15-year-old from Keith, South Australia, was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome after months of declining health, prompting her mother to launch an online campaign for awareness.
Piper Makin, a 15-year-old living on a family farm in Keith, South Australia, saw her energy plummet over several months, eventually requiring a wheelchair. After urging local medical providers, a basic examination revealed she suffers from postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). The Australian POTS Foundation notes the disorder mainly affects women aged 15-50, yet a national GP survey showed only 2 % have received training on it.
Researcher Marie-Claire Seeley explained that long-term studies find recovery rates as low as 2 %. With few local resources, Piper’s mother Kylie started a Facebook page to gather information and link with another teen from Bordertown who also has POTS. The family financed six weeks of intravenous therapy in Adelaide, enabling Piper to resume school and netball, though occasional relapses force her to withdraw from events. Both mother and daughter hope greater visibility will improve diagnosis and treatment access for rural sufferers.
Why it matters
It shows how rare diseases like POTS can go undiagnosed in remote areas, leaving families to seek costly, distant care.
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