From the BBC:
“Oswestry girl chosen as face
of hospice Christmas campaign”
A five-year-old girl has been
chosen to front a Christmas fundraising campaign for a children's hospice
charity. Amelia, from Oswestry in Shropshire, is on the front of thousands of
envelopes being sent out to supporters of Hope House Children's Hospice. She
has a hole in her heart and leaky valves, as well as Down's syndrome, and has
respite care at the hospice. Her parents, Charlotte and Dave, said their
daughter "couldn't be in better hands". The couple were told during a
routine midwife appointment at 34-weeks that their unborn baby was not growing
as well as she should be. During a specialist scan, it was discovered she had a
heart condition, which Charlotte said was a "huge shock".
(Playtime at Hope House for
Amelia and her parents Charlotte and Dave)
Amelia was born weighing just
3lbs 10oz (1.6kg) and taken to intensive care, where the heart condition and
Down's syndrome was confirmed. She underwent surgery, and after six weeks
Amelia was allowed home, but needed oxygen to breathe. Soon after she was
readmitted to hospital and her first Christmas was spent in intensive care. Her
parents said they found their lives taken over by her care. At one time they
lived out of a camper van in a hospital car park so they could remain close
her, when they were referred to Hope House, near their home in Oswestry. "It
was somewhere to come where Amelia could do new things like go swimming and see
other children, and just play and do normal things," her mother said. "We
also know we could come here if we are struggling at any time - for instance,
if Amelia's feeding peg came out we wouldn't have to go to the hospital,"
Dave added. Amelia is still on medication, but is not currently at a point
where she needs more surgery.
^ Hopefully this Christmas Fundraiser
will help the Hope House Children’s Hospice so they can help more children. ^
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