22 December 2023 , 19:11
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After more than a year in hospital waiting for a transplant, little Amelia Bolter can’t remember living anywhere else. The tot’s parents are holding out hope that 2024 will be the year a donor heart becomes available, so they can finally take her home.
Amelia, who is three on January 3, was 17 months when her mum Jodie Woolford took her to the GP for a suspected ear infection. She was later diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, which causes episodes of abnormally fast heart rates, and she has survived with the help of a “Berlin heart” at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London since October 2022.
Jodie, from Chippenham, Wilts, said: “Amelia doesn’t remember home. We have shown her pictures but she thinks this is her home. Next Christmas we would love to be at home baking, watching Christmas films, going to see Santa and making memories.
“Without the organ donor there is no hope, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope, and a terrible loss becomes a gift.”
Amelia at Great Ormond Street Hospital with her parents Jodie and Rich, and little sister Blossom (Tim Merry)Jodie, 32, and dad Rich, 33, live in The Sick Children’s Trust accommodation at GOSH with Amelia’s sister Blossom, who turns one tomorrow. Jodie said: “Last Christmas was a scary time because I gave birth to Blossom on the 23rd and Amelia was very sedated and very poorly.
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“Due to Amelia being very poorly I needed to be at her’s side so I decided to have a planned C-section for Blossom. This whole year has all been about juggling and making sure the girls are happy and content.
“We have had so many ups and downs it feels like we have been on a massive and long rollercoaster, with laughter, tears, scary moments and praises when they both hit their milestones. I have only been home twice and Rich eight times. It feels so strange walking into our family home by yourself and laying in bed at night makes you think of how life should be like and what we will do when we do go home.”
Amelia met Father Christmas at Great Ormond Street Hospital where she is waiting for a transplant
Amelia Bolter has spent more than a year in hospital (Tim Merry)The family are spearheading an NHS Blood and Transplant appeal for families to sign up for the organ donation register. Despite the Mirror’s successful campaign to have the law in England changed to give “deemed consent”, there is a desperate shortage of child donors.
Jodie said: “We want families to talk about their wishes with loved ones as one person could save up to nine lives. It only takes seconds to sign up.”
Nurse Sarah Mead-Regan, transplant co-ordinator at GOSH, said: “Every day I’m inspired by how resilient, hopeful and strong the families we care for are, but the waiting is unbearably hard.”