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Amelia LancasterA little girl with meningitis who “revived” after a visit from a priest
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- The Brave Journey of Amelia Lancaster
- A Mysterious Illness
- A Race Against Time
- The Miracle
- A Long Road to Recovery
The Brave Journey of Amelia Lancaster
Amelia Lancaster, a three-year-old girl, lives with a prosthetic right hand. She has a speech delay, but overall, you wouldn't know that she had to go through so much at such a young age.
A Mysterious Illness
On an ordinary day, when Amelia was just ten months old, she developed a high temperature, became pale, and slept excessively. Concerned, her parents sought advice on the NHS Direct website, where specialists suspected chickenpox. Melinda, Amelia's mother, noticed raised soft spots on her body. Additionally, Amelia would roll her eyes back when she was born. While the specialists advised the parents to let the child rest, Melinda felt that something more serious was happening.
A Race Against Time
Amelia couldn't lie still in bed and would whimper in discomfort. Melinda made the decision to take her daughter to the hospital. At the hospital, the parents shared all the symptoms with the doctors. Upon examination, it was discovered that Amelia had an abnormally high heart rate. To combat her tachycardia and dehydration, Amelia received fluids through a catheter. At this point, nobody had mentioned meningitis, although Melinda had a nagging feeling about it. Further examination revealed a spot, initially believed to be a birthmark, the size of a pinhead that looked suspicious. A blood culture was necessary. Melinda recalled that after the nurse administered a large amount of fluid to her daughter and left, her husband said, "I didn't know Amelia had a birthmark there." Melinda's realization struck her because Amelia didn't have that mark before. They removed her diaper and discovered a hundred similar spots; their daughter was covered in a rash. Within seconds, the test results confirmed their worst fears - Amelia had meningitis, and it turned out to be the most dangerous, bacterial type. She also had sepsis. The tiny baby was quickly whisked away to intensive care, connected to life-supporting machines.
The Miracle
Three hours later, Melinda and Simon were allowed by Amelia's bedside, where she lay with a tube in her mouth, purple spots covering her body, and a bloated frame from excessive fluid administration. The doctor directly told the parents that their daughter was in critical condition. He explained that Amelia shouldn't have survived because the high level of fluid in her body had become toxic. At one point, they stopped the fluid administration, which was the only thing keeping her heart rate in check. Desperate, Melinda requested a priest to be called. The servant of God recited prayers and performed the last rites over the little girl. The parents sat on the bed, secluded by curtains, listening to the prayer. Suddenly, Amelia's heart rate began to normalize. By morning, the doctor returned to the hopeless patient and was astonished to see her still alive.
A Long Road to Recovery
However, a new threat emerged due to the restricted blood flow to Amelia's limbs. She could lose both legs from the knee down and one arm from the elbow. The parents quickly signed the necessary documents, and Amelia was sent to surgery, where the damaged muscles were removed to drain the fluids. Hydrocortisone was administered since her body didn't produce cortisol, which helps the body cope with stress and injury. The surgeons managed to save both her legs and her left arm, but a portion of her right hand had to be amputated. In total, Amelia spent two months in the hospital. Due to weakened leg muscles, she didn't start walking until she was two years old. Today, Amelia is a three-year-old girl living with a prosthetic right hand. She has a speech delay, but overall, you wouldn't know that she had to go through so much at such a young age.
