A Special First Christmas for Amelia and Family After Months of Specialist Care

In May 2025, baby Amelia was welcomed into the world at the University Hospital of Wales.

During pregnancy, routine scans revealed that Amelia had a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a rare and life-threatening condition in which the diaphragm does not fully form.

For Amelia, this meant that her stomach and bowel had moved into her chest, preventing her left lung from developing properly and pushing her heart to the right side.

From the moment Amelia was born, she was unable to breathe independently.

Amelia was born at 4am, and by 7pm she had been placed on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), a highly specialised form of life support that takes over the work of the heart and lungs for the most critically ill patients.

In Amelia’s case, this gave her the vital chance for growth and recovery that she needed.

On day three of life, Amelia suffered a cardiac arrest while on ECMO, which sadly resulted in a brain infarct. Despite this significant setback, Amelia showed remarkable strength, and she is not far behind on her milestones, something her family describe as amazing.

While still supported by ECMO, Amelia underwent a series of major operations.

She required highly specialist treatment shortly after birth and was transferred to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where she had three complex surgeries, two in a single day and a further follow‑up procedure.

After being airlifted back to Wales, Amelia underwent an additional complex surgery at the University Hospital of Wales to close a hole in her oesophagus.

Amelia also faced further complications during her treatment, including pulmonary hypertension, pleural effusions and the need for prolonged ventilation. Despite these significant challenges, Amelia gradually began to stabilise and respond to treatment.

After a difficult few months, Amelia and her parents, Emma and Mike, were finally able to return home to Cwmbran at the end of September and recently got to celebrate their first Christmas together as a family at home.

The family shared a touching video of their departure from the Children’s Hospital for Wales, where colleagues gathered to clap them out after what had been an incredibly challenging and emotional period.

Dr Genevieve Thueux, Consultant Paediatrician and Clinical Director for Child Health at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, said: “On behalf of all colleagues at the Children's Hospital for Wales, we wished Amelia and her family a very Merry Christmas and we are thrilled that we were able to there for her when she needed us most.

“We pride ourselves on our patient centred approach and our close working relationships with colleagues across Wales and into England. The shared journey that Amelia and her family have navigated exemplifies the hard work and dedication of all involved."