Amadi

This is Amadi in the Summer of 2003, aged 4 1/2.

Amadi was born on Sunday, 1 Nov 1998 at Hammersmith Hospital in London by emergency
caesarian when it was clear that I was not "progressing" and she was in some distress.

Although long, Amadi was incredibly slight and it did seem as though her skin was too big for her. Apart from some breathing difficulties (the nurses had to take her away to 'evacuate' her nasal passage, all seemed to be well although Amadi did not really open her eyes for the longest while.

When she was 6 weeks old (a day after her face was lit up by a beaming smile - no, it WAS NOT wind), she was rushed to hospital due to swelling of her hands, and later feet. To this day, the medical professionals cannot tell me what the reason was for this, but I know it was down to lactose intolerance - I had given her some formula because she did not seem to have enough of my breast milk (mainly because of the projectile vomiting).

Although Amadi is my first and only child, it was clear to me that something was not quite right. At 15 months a heart murmur was established. She was 2 1/2 before WS was even considered. I did my own research and realized with some relief (and plenty of emotional turmoil) that Amadi was a Williams kid.

Amadi is now almost 5 years old and has just started mainstream schooling with support and she absolutely loves it. I don't care whether she is academically gifted or not - she is mixing with her peers and that is what matters to me.

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