I’m a conqueror!

JUSTISIA SHIPENA
Betty Fortunato

A speller, a fighter, a kickboxer. Mia Kittler, a current year 9 student at ISWB, suffers from amniotic band syndrome- the condition results from the tearing of the amniotic sac, in which fibers that break off may compromise the blood flow and could cause a loss of limb of a fetus before birth. She deals with this condition every single day of her life.

Unable to do the “normal” activities of a child, Mia cannot do sports like discus, as some of her fingers are severely deformed (only her thumb and pinky are fully grown on one hand). Mia also struggles to use stationery such as a scissor, holding a pen or using a normal sharpener. This means she is forced to use an electric sharpener, as a normal sharpener hurts her severely.

Furthermore, Mia is restricted from wearing gloves (that is if they are not specially made for her) and rings since the rings could either be too small, too big or not the right shape to fit her fingers.

This condition forces Mia to be absent from school at times as has to go for various surgeries, usually in South Africa, where she would meet with specialists. This causes her to be absent from school for months because of the extended healing period. “I try to go during the holidays but sometimes it cannot be done otherwise.”

Mia does not require chronic medication since her condition has only affected the way her body should have grown. “I don’t really have specific medication since I was just born like this” says Mia.

Other than that, Mia does not allow her condition to limit her. She pursues kickboxing and has participated in many competitions against other schools. Mia enjoys normal days at school where she is not scared to socialise with anyone who approaches her. Mia copes well in class when her condition does not interfere, and is one of the top academic students in her class.

Mia receive some discouraging stares, yet that does not give her a low morale. She is confident and friendly and nothing could phase her.

Many people find this condition to be quite devastating and challenging, but not Mia. She does not see it as a limitation to her goals and ambitions. A professional Paralympic swimmer, Katarina Roxon once said. “I was born with amniotic band syndrome, and I wouldn’t change it for the world”.