By Luke Voogt
Melanie Thomson had a special message for her 10-year-old son Ridley at the Geelong Awards for People with a Disability.
“You can have a disability and still be a leader,” the Ocean Grove local said.
Dr Thomson on Monday dedicated her Leadership Award to Ridley who, like mum, was showing an aptitude for science.
“He seems to be attracted to physics and IT,” she said.
“I spend a lot of time making sure he’s got access to learning how to code – that’s a skill everyone is going to need in the future.”
Dr Thomson won the award for her work in microbiology and medical science, and for being the “patient voice” of a successful campaign to close a dangerous legislative loophole.
The Federal Government late last year amended the legislation, which covered treatments requiring autologous cells.
Autologous cell transplants involve removing cells from a person and re-using them to treat a condition in the same person, Dr Thomson explained.
“I’ve had one myself,” she said.
Dr Thomson, who has multiple sclerosis, underwent an epidural blood patch to treat a spinal fluid leak that was causing “head-splitting pain”.
But before the amendment pseudo-scientific practitioners were using the legislative loophole to treat conditions, including MS, with dangerous, non-evidence-based techniques, Dr Thompson said.
“A, it doesn’t work and B, they’re not medically-qualified to do these treatments.”
Dr Thomson juggles her advocacy with her scientific career and looking after Ridley, who has Asperger’s Syndrome.
“It takes me all weekend to recover from working at the pace that I work,” she said.
Leopold’s Chris Hall won the Achievement Award for his fundraising efforts for motor neuron disease.
Kirrily Hawyard and Linda Stokoe also won awards on the night for campaigning for marriage equality and respectful relationships.
