‘I’d be chuffed to help Amy tell her story’
A TOP author has stepped up to help Swansea teenager Amy-Claire Davies tick off another wish on her list.
The 16-year-old from Llansamlet has an undiagnosed terminal condition that is affecting her immune system.
But far from feeling sorry for herself, Amy-Claire has compiled a list of 250 things she wants to achieve in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
One of them is to be driven around in a luxury sports car, leading to her being inundated with offers.
Now Melanie Davies, the driving force behind Swansea-based Treat Trust Wales, wants to help the teenager fulfil another dream, which is to write her own book.
Treat aims to develop a £10 million therapy centre at Morriston Hospital.
Melanie, who broke her back in a motorbike accident aged 15, came up with the idea recovering from the first of her two bouts of breast cancer.
Her remarkable story is recounted in her best-selling autobiography, Never Say Die. Now she says she would love to help Amy-Claire tell her own story.
"If she wants any help, advice or support I would be chuffed to do whatever I can," said Melanie, who is from Port Talbot but now lives near Pontardawe with husband and fellow Treat campaigner Mike.
"I am hugely impressed with her. She is really brave, and I don't mean that in a condescending sense.
"The fact that she has this positive outlook just blew my mind. She is being so sensible and mature."
Amy-Claire has said she did not want a diagnosis as it would be a timeline of what would happen to her. She wanted to live her life to the full rather than be "poked and prodded in hospital".
Melanie said: "She's absolutely right to take that attitude. When I was 15 I was told I wouldn't see my 30th birthday and I'm 47 now.
"You never know what is around the corner.
"I've had breast cancer twice and a neurological disease, and I'm still here.
"I kept going by keeping busy and Amy-Claire is doing the same."
The teenager's mum Caroline said: "It's a very kind offer and we will definitely be talking to Melanie about it."
Source: http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/d-chuffed-help-Amy-tell-story/story-13274591-detail/story.html