Kaitie Francis’ courageous daily battle with rare medical condition earns her Pride of Australia nomination

KAITIE Francis epitomises courage and she is not afraid to let people know.

KAITIE Francis epitomises courage and she is not afraid to let people know.

“It has been tough ... I’m awesome,” the Loxton resident said.

The 10-year-old was born with Mucopolysaccharidoses Type 1 Hurler syndrome — one of a group of incurable diseases known as MPS, which can cause intellectual impairment, eye and hearing problems, bone and joint malformation, and heart and breathing difficulties.

Kaitie is one of only about 14 people in Australia with MPS Type 1 Hurler syndrome, including six from South Australia.

She has undergone more than 30 operations and travelled thousands of kilometres for medical

treatment during her battle against the life-threatening genetic disorder. A team of 17 specialists provide her the critical care she needs.

About one in 25,000 Australians are diagnosed with a type of MPS, which involves the abnormal

storage in cells of sugars called mucopolysaccharides, caused by the absence of a specific enzyme.

Kaitie’s mother, Kimberlee, has nominated the Loxton Primary School student for a Pride of Australia award in the Child of Courage category.

“I genuinely think she is one of the most incredible children I have met and not just because I am biased but because she has been through more in 10 years than most people go through in an entire lifetime,” she said.

“There is no cure but she is doing really, really well for someone with the condition that she has.

“There will be a lot of surgery still to come likely to include some pretty big spinal operations.”

She said Kaitie was a “happy, giggly child with a wicked sense of humour” and inspired other people to be grateful for their lives and not take good health for granted.

Last year a children’s book, Kaitie the Courageous, inspired by her health battle was launched at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.