Marvellous Millie shows Mia she’s mighty!

Born into a wonderful, loving family, baby Mia is a very special little girl.

She was diagnosed with a rare heart and lung condition – Scimitar Syndrome –  and shortly after she was born at Altnaglevin Hospital three months ago, she had surgery, spending weeks in hospital in Belfast and Dublin.

Now Mia’s aunty, Bronagh Kearney from Derry, is determined that she will know just how special she is by writing a children’s book about her little niece – with a little help from her pet dog Millie

 Bronagh wants Mia to know how amazing she is and has written a children’s book ‘Mighty Mia and the Marvellous Millie’ in honour of her niece.

 Bronagh’s dog Millie also suffers from a lung condition and receives daily medication. In her book, she uses her beloved Golden Retriever to explain to Mia that she has a special superpower.

Bronagh explains: “I want everyone living with a health condition to know that they are special and they have a superpower.

 “Mia is only three months old, but she really is a bundle of joy. She is so resilient and happy, and I want everyone to know how special she is.

“She has been through so much already, but I need her to know that this won’t limit her as she gets older. She is strong and brave, and her condition will be her superpower.”

Doctors picked up that there was a problem with Mia’s heart in an early scan, but it wasn’t until she was born that they diagnosed the condition. At just a few weeks old she had an operation in Dublin and then spent over a month in hospital in Belfast. It is a condition she will always live with, but she will be able to live a normal life.

Living with a chronic illness is something that Bronagh understands as she has health issues of her own. She suffers from ulcerative colitis – a condition that her dog Millie also has!

 Millie not only has a lung condition that means she has to use an inhaler twice a day but, like her owner, she suffers from ulcerative colitis where the digestive system is inflamed causing nausea, pain and fatigue.

 Bronagh says: “It’s quite ironic that Millie also has her health woes. Not only does she have a lung condition like Mia, but she has the same illness as me as well.

 “But despite it all, Millie is a happy dog. Her condition is well managed, and she doesn’t let it stand in her way. She gets on with her life and we all love her.

“We want Mia to know that while she has this illness, it doesn’t have her. We want her to have the mindset that she can do anything, and we know she can!”

 So, it seemed fitting that Bronagh used Millie to explain to Mia about living with an illness and how it will be her superpower.

 When Mia was in hospital she felt the urge to put pen to paper and drafted the special book for her niece. It was a scary time for everyone and particularly for Mia’s mum and dad Bronagh’s sister Danielle and her husband Jamie.

 And, as well as writing it, she illustrated the book herself too with beautiful drawings. Bronagh enjoyed art at school however her illness meant that she didn’t pass her GCSE Art exam – something that is hard to believe when you look at the quality of her work.

Bronagh didn’t tell Danielle and Jamie what she was doing until the book was ready. She designed it herself and had it printed before handing it over to them as a special gift.

 She explains: “They were really touched as you can imagine. It’s nice that we have Mia’s story written down so she can look back on it when she is older and understand what happened to her.

 “There are also many parents who are going through what Danielle and Jamie are and I think the book would be great for them to help them through their journey.”

Bronagh says she would love to write more children’s books, focusing on children who have had to overcome obstacles and allowing them to ‘own’ who they are.

 She has been inspired by her little niece to take the plunge into the world of writing and has been amazed by the level of support she has had – not just in Derry but further afield.

 “Everyone has been so positive and supportive. I would love to find a publisher and create more books. I want to be an advocate for chronic illness and help young people navigate through their difficulties.”