THE parents of a little girl who spent two Christmases in hospital awaiting life-saving surgery have made an early Christmas wish this year.

In June 2022, Jodie Woolford took her baby daughter Amelia, to the doctors with a suspected ear infection. At the appointment, the doctor noticed Amelia had an 'extremely high heart rate' and she was rushed to Royal United Hospital in Bath with suspected bronchitis. She was later transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital, where she was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Over the next four months, Amelia's condition slowly deteriorated and eventually the family were told she needed to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital to be placed on a Berlin heart to help her heart cope whilst she waited for a transplant. 

 

Amelia spent 14 months waiting for her transplant, which her family call her 'gift of life', and is now on the road to recovery.  

Last month we reported on a charity bike ride the family organised to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Now, they have launched an Amazon Wish List shopping page to encourage those that can to buy an item for children who will face their Christmas in hospital.

Amelia's mum, Jodie Woolford explained: "We would love to give back to the hospitals that saved our daughter Amelia's life. So we are starting a Christmas collection early so other children like our two daughters don't miss out on the magic of Christmas.