Our Son Daniel was born on 27.05.2010 with ABS which we were unaware of until he was born. My pregnancy was straight forward and Daniel was born two weeks early. Daniel has an older Brother who was not affected by ABS.

All four of Daniel’s limbs were affected with the least being his left foot which has an extra bobble of skin attached to his second toe. The four fingers on his right hand are fused together although his thumb is fine. Daniel had deep Amniotic Band indentations on his left wrist and right ankle which were surgically removed when he was one month old. The band on Daniel’s ankle had attached his big toe to his shin causing Metatarsus Adductus which we have learnt is similar to club foot only Daniel’s forefoot is affected and not his ankle. This was treated by casting Daniel’s foot twice, first when he was four months old for 7 weeks then again when he was ten months old for 5 weeks at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital using the Ponsetti casting method (casting above the knee). His casts were changed weekly and he has since had to wear a corrective boot for twelve hours a day to avoid a relapse in the shape of his foot.

Daniel also experiences swelling in his hand and foot which we have learnt is a condition called Lymphedema. This is treated by a form of massage called MLD (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) and pressure garments in the form of a sock and glove that are to be worn at all times besides when he has his bath and massages. Daniel meets with his Plastic Surgeon, his Orthepeadic Doctor and his Lymphedema Therapist regularly and he will need surgery in the near future to release the four fused fingers on his right hand.

ABS has not set Daniel back, he amazes us all the time. He took his first steps at 14 months old despite us being told that he will walk later than other children his age. He is 15 months old now and is always up to mischief with his big Brother, he is just a typical cheeky little boy. We will remain positive and raise Daniel to believe that he can do anything he wants to do in life. We know that we have a long road ahead and there will be more obstacles to overcome but we wouldn’t change him for the world. He has been through so much in his short life, he is a blessing to us and we are so proud of him.