Gold Coast Bulletin - 16 February 2008 

Imogen Oulton will be the belle of the ball tonight when she steps out in style to support what she knows is a worthy cause.

The Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club nipper, who had a double lung transplant in August, will be a guest of honour at the Madhatter's Ball in Brisbane.

The Preston James Research Fund event aims to raise awareness and money for research into life support for children, which could save lives and help kids like Imogen in the future to avoid organ transplants.

The glamorous gala comes on the eve of Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week, which starts tomorrow.

Imogen's dad, John Oulton, said the nine-year-old had suffered the same infection as the boy pictured in the ball charity's logo, two-year-old Preston James, who died after he went on life support.

"One of the issues why he didn't survive was the technology in mechanical ventilation, which is designed for developed lungs, not developing lungs," said Mr Oulton.

"Imogen had mycoplasma pneumonia and one of the effects ... was inflamed lung tissue.

"It got to a point where they had to give her body a break ... and part of that meant ventilation.

"What happened was with inflamed lung tissue and forcing air in, that effectively turned into scar tissue."

Imogen developed acute respiratory distress syndrome, causing irreparable damage to her lungs.

The nipper became the first Australian child to have a transplant in which adult lungs were cut down to size to fit at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

Imogen has returned to nippers and school since the operation and is doing well.

The Thornlands local said she was disappointed she would have to miss nippers the morning after her late night at the ball, but she was excited to get dressed up in her new polka dot dress and matching spotted shoes.

"We bought the shoes separately but we thought it was all just supposed to be together," she said. "I'm getting my hair done by a hairdresser.

"(The ball) is for raising money to go for kids to get new ventilators at the Mater (Children's Hospital)."

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http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2008/02/16/7825_gold-coast-news.html