LITTLE Amy Jane Urquhart doesn’t have her troubles to seek. At four and three quarters she has seen more doctors and physiotherapists than most of us do in a lifetime.
For Amy was born with spina bifida. Not only does she have lesions in her back and incontinence plus all the other associated problems which mean she needs virtually constant attention, but she has hydrocephalus - water on the brain - which involves having a permanent shunt to drain away the fluid.
Unable to walk, Amy spends most days at Cauldeen School or in a special chair at home when she isn’t at respite to give mum Deborah Jane and dad James Urquhart a break. Soon she will be big enough to operate a wheelchair, but in the meantime she has to be lifted everywhere - and Amy weighed in at two stone three pounds when she was last measured.
Nevertheless, Amy is as bright as a button, sociable, quick and positive - a tribute to the dedication, loving care and support she has had in her short life.
She thoroughly enjoys attending Cauldeen and she has been going there for the last year. Her favourite activity is playing with playdough.
Now her mum and dad would like to help extend her horizons, perhaps by taking her on holiday. Ask Amy what she dreams of and her imagination doesn’t take her as far as Disneyland or any other such holiday spot yet. She would just like to have a bike, like all the other kids at school. It would have to be a special one, of course, one that could be powered with her hands.
But cash is a problem as Amy’s condition means Deborah and James can’t work. So friends are rallying round to raise support for Amy, and their first fund-raiser was a raffle last month, which raised a total of £78.60. Another raffle is planned before Christmas, and after the festive season it is hoped to hold a prize bingo night.
Chief fundraiser and family friend is Shirley Dunnill, whose parents live next door to Amy in Coronation Road. “Everyone is being so helpful,” she said. “Moray Firth Radio are being very supportive. Amy and her parents really deserve a break.”
One of the problems in coping with rare illnesses is general information and support of others in the same position. “The nearest branch of the Spina Bifida Association is at Lossiemouth,” said Deborah, and the only other child I know of who suffers from the condition is a boy in Dingwall. There is no support group in Inverness.”
In the meantime, Amy is facing three more operations in the near future - two on her back and one on her leg.