in 1994 she met ron allison. after dating for less than a year, the couple married. >> well, he was everything i had ever wanted in a man. very intelligent, a real go-getter. a workaholic, so we seemed to match up in that regard. just a super guy. >> we both had had the same interests. we both wanted to have a family. i think that was the key. career-wise, but similar interests. >> melinda had been head of her own public relations business, a firm she sold in 1989 but she still continued her career. >> i sat as a board member of a bank and still represent a number of clients that are -- i guess holdovers from my company in new york. >> ron worked in investment banks and was head of corporate finance at his firm. in 1996, melinda gave birth to their son, reese, ron loved being a father and a weekend baseball coach. then, in february 1999, 3-year-old reese developed what seemed like a flu. >> he started having some respiratory problems. and he would have a real hard time catching his breath. and -- we thought golly