Waikiki: Community rallies behind 12-year-old Amelia Flint after stroke leaves her unable to walk or swallow

A 12-year-old Waikiki girl will need to learn to walk again after suffering from a stroke in hospital following an unrelated medical procedure earlier this month.

Amelia Flint was born with a congenital heart defect and no spleen.

Before she’d even celebrated her first birthday the little fighter underwent open heart surgery to repair the blood flow.

Then in 2016, Amelia underwent a second surgery to fix the circulation in her heart.

In 2018, the family was dealt another blow when Amelia’s little sister Indie, who was just two at the time, was diagnosed with leukaemia.

For the past four years, the family have enjoyed a short break from significant medical issues.

Amelia indulged in her love of Lego and anime and grew into a “witty and caring person who lights up a room with her funny jokes”, according to mum Candace.

But this year they found out Amelia had a condition called protein-losing enteropathy and Fontan-associated liver disease.

Amelia was booked into hospital for several procedures, but tragedy struck.

“After a week’s stay in hospital with her body adjusting to the heparin and warfarin levels, we were looking good to almost be going home,” Mrs Flint said.

“But during the week Amelia (began) suffering from a headache that just lingered.

“Her headache became so unbelievably unbearable and she suffered a stroke and a number of seizures.”

Mrs Flint said a CT scan revealed Amelia had a clot and two bleeds in her brain and she quickly signed papers so Amelia could be rushed for a craniectomy.

“She still has part of her skull removed and we are waiting for the swelling of her brain to subside before the skull piece is placed back,” she said.

“She is now needing to learn to eat and swallow again, and will also need to learn to walk again.”

Mrs Flint has given up work to be by Amelia’s side while husband Andrew remains at home to care for eight-year-old Indie.

“This has taken a huge toll on Indie as it has bought back many bad memories of when she went through her leukaemia battle,” Mrs Flint said.

Mrs Flint’s friend Hayley Parker has now stepped in to rally the community behind the family, setting up a GoFundMe to cover bills, fuel and hospital parking.

Mrs Flint is unsure what life will look like in the coming months.

“In regards to Amelia’s future, this is still something the hospital can’t give us solid answers on, let alone how the brain bleeds even came about,” she said.

“We are still trying to work out how we got into this situation as we still have no clear answers.

“But we as a family are united and trying to look at the positives where we can, but it can be really hard some days.”