Born 15 weeks early with a gap in her coronary heart and weighing as a lot as a coke bottle, Karen Messmer had little likelihood of surviving.
16 years later, the Rockhampton teenager has defied the chances to compete within the upcoming Special Olympic World Games as one in every of 4 equestrian riders chosen for the group.
She can also be the one group member representing central Queensland.
Karen has shared her story greater than a decade after her troubled delivery at South Brisbane’s Mater Hospital.
Hospital workers feared she may not survive on account of her early delivery at simply 25 weeks gestation after her mom Susanne haemorrhaged three weeks earlier.
An emotional Susanne revealed she was instructed by docs she might put Karen “on her chest and hold her until she passed away”.
“Thankfully we never had to experience that. Karen was so little when she was born, (but) she was a real fighter,” she mentioned.
“She weighed as much as a coke bottle and her tiny nappy would fit in the palm of my hand.”
“Karen is my little miracle … I am so proud of her, she has had some big challenges.”
Now a young person, Karen revealed she underwent three separate surgical procedures to shut the opening in her coronary heart.
While the opening is now sufficiently small to not do any damages, she nonetheless has a coronary heart murmur.
Karen needed to be cared around-the-clock by docs for greater than 100 days on the Neonatal Critical Care Unit at Mater Mother’s Hospital in Brisbane, earlier than being transferred to a more in-depth non-public hospital in Rockhampton.
Karen, who was recognized with Autism Spectrum Disorder and dyslexia, additionally has hypotonia – a low muscle tone that has induced her to have weak muscle mass in her legs and arms, rendering her drained shortly after quite a lot of exercise.
“Horse riding has helped me strengthen my muscles, I also go to physiotherapy three times a week,” she mentioned.
After her childhood struggles, Karen mentioned she was thrilled to characterize Australia doing one thing she beloved.
“For me to have this opportunity means that people can see if they try hard their dreams can come true,” she mentioned.
The Rockhampton teen started driving at Granlea Riding Centre in central Queensland, ultimately competing within the Special Olympics Invitational Selections in September final yr.
Karen received a gold and two silver medals.
Mater Neonatologist Dr Elizabeth Hurrion – who cared for Karen 16 years in the past – mentioned it was an unimaginable journey for the younger lady from such a tough begin to life.
“From her tiny start to life, fraught with difficulties, and faced with many challenges through childhood, I am truly impressed that Karen has reached this exciting milestone,” Dr Hurrion mentioned.
“Karen shows us the power of harnessing your abilities to achieve your dreams.
With enthusiasm, passion and a huge amount of persistence and determination, Karen has achieved her dream of representing Australia at an elite level.”
Karen’s household are elevating funds for the teenager to compete in Berlin right here.
Originally revealed as ‘Weighed as much as a coke bottle’: How premature-born ‘miracle’ teen defied the chances to compete at Olympics
