When It All Changed

To tell the true story of Amelia's journey we have to start at the very beginning...

January 5th 2016 Amelia just 5 days old had her heel prick, all children have this check done at this age. However this became a crucial check for Amelia. Like most people I didn't fully know much about the 5 day check, all I knew is you don't hear anything unless something is wrong.

On January 7th I got a phone call while out at the range shopping with my new beautiful baby and my husband. I felt amazing I enjoyed my new purpose as a mummy to this little baby. However when I got the call my heart sank a little, all they told me was that Amelia had Phenylketonuria and that we needed to get to Bristol hospital the following day as it was urgent.

On the 8th January we learnt all we could about PKU we embraced it and have since found it easy to come to terms with. I still get a pain in my heart every now and then but I know that my little girl will flourish and become a gorgeous healthily girl full of fun and loving memories. We couldn't however have become so relaxed about this without the awesome support we have received from Bristol and Truro hospital and Amelia has an amazing team ready to help whenever we need it.

All I think about is if Amelua was born when this early screening wasn't done she wouldn't have the chance she has today, I take that as a blessing and remind myself that it could have been so much worse. I'm very lucky that I have Amelia in my life, I wouldn't change a thing. We are on this journey together.

When I have my next baby, the screening will be even earlier after 48hours of being in the new world the heel prick will be done to find out even earlier is they also have PKU... And between you and me as bad as it may sound to other people, I would hope that they also have PKU... I know for people reading this not in this situation will find it very hard to understand, it sounds like I'm wishing an illness on my not even here child but it would hurt even more to see them both being brought up differently... But who knows what will happen...

All I know right now is I have a daughter with PKU, she was screened early enough for us to come to terms with her condition, early enough to start the monitoring and do something to stop any damage happening.

I also know that Amelia Rose Meaney may have PKU but she has no limits, she will achieve whatever she wants most most of all she is awesome and so much braver than anyone I have ever met.

I love my daughter no matter what!