Francie Thornton 1984-2025
We were very sad to receive the message a few weeks ago that Francie Thornton, daughter of Linda and Nick Thornton, New Zealand (NZ) had died aged 40. Francie was the youngest of three sisters and had the diagnosis of PWS at the age of four as the youngest with PWS in NZ. Typically for that time it was the mother (after a friend of hers, had read about PWS), who asked the pediatrician if Francie might have PWS. This was first not approved but later confirmed by genetic testing.
As a child Francie lived with her family and later as an adult in a house with staff. Francie is described as intelligent and bright, and she is remembered as a friendly caring person. She loved to buy gifts for all her relatives and was concerned if someone she knew was ill. There were difficult periods in her life, but also many happy memories. She always had support from her family and her staff.
Her mother, Linda Thornton, came to the first international conference for PWS in 1991, in the Netherlands, where IPWSO was founded , she started the PWS association in New Zealand, became an IPWSO board member and secretary, started the IPWSO newsletter Wavelength, and thereafter started and was running the IPWSO web until 2019.
Linda created connections to many countries where PWS associations were started, and was the ”first responder” who received information and questions from member countries and individual families all over the world. Linda has participated in many PWS meetings in several countries and organised New Zealand’s first international meeting about PWS in 1996 in Auckland, and the NZ PWS Association hosted IPWSO’s 2004 conference in Christchurch. Linda also wrote the lyrics for the IPWSO song “Fly high” (Music: former IPWSO president Giorgio Fornasier).
Our thoughts go to Linda, Nick and family and also to all who have supported and cared for Francie.