A baby born 16 weeks prematurely in a toilet broke viewers’ hearts on BBC2’s Hospital as she faced a desperate new battle for life after contracting pneumonia.
Amaya, who weighed less than three-quarters of a bag of sugar at birth and has chronic lung disease, was rushed back to intensive care aged 22 months with the infection but then suffered a cardiac arrest.
It left her prospects of survival bleak as her anguished parents looked on while medics faced a race against time to resuscitate her.
But the brave little girl beat the odds and pulled through, leaving the audience in tears.
Her mum Mel tweeted after last night’s episode: “That was hard to watch, even with Amaya happily asleep next to us.”
That was hard to watch, even with Amaya happily asleep next to us. Credit to you for your sensitivity and support throughout the whole filming process. Thank you for reflecting Amaya’s story as it was, and for highlighting the dedication and skills of the staff #Hospital
— Mel Vella (@melveltraining) April 17, 2018
The support provided by #hospital staff in Amaya’s first 2 years, to date, has been incredible and as you say it really does extend to the whole family. Ever grateful. https://t.co/rMGdhWrr81
— Mel Vella (@melveltraining) April 17, 2018
On the programme, Mel said of Amaya’s premature birth: “It all started with me having pain. I started to bleed.
“I had been put on the ward, I’d gone to the bathroom and thought I was passing a blood clot but it wasn’t. It was her.
“I caught her, opened the door and hit the emergency button. She was the size of my hand. She weighed 735 grams but perfectly formed.”
After the mum-of-two’s youngest daughter was rushed back to hospital with pneumonia, Mel said: “We’re used to rollercoasters with Amaya but today is probably the biggest rollercoaster.”
Just a few days later, the toddler’s condition deteriorated and she suffered a cardiac arrest, leaving Mel “terrified” as she prepared for the worst.
Read more: Brave One Born Every Minute midwife was diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy with first child
“I’m mentally shattered and the stress is very high, but at the same time you have to keep going,” she said.
“It’s a case of every minute counts, then every hour counts, and we don’t know which way this will go.”
Dr Patrick Davies said: “I’m very worried. We saw this morning how desperately fragile and unstable she is.
“Having a cardiac arrest because of flipping from your front to your back, that’s pretty extreme.”
Incredibly, Amaya recovered, and when she was ready to go home, Dr Davies said: “I know she won’t win Olympic gold at marathon but then nor have I.
“As she grows up, hopefully her lungs will catch up with her, but we’ll just have to wait and see.
“She was desperately sick, absolutely on the limits of what’s possible. Now it’s fantastic.”
Last night’s episode also featured four-year-old Esme who recovered from life-threatening sepsis after being placed in an induced coma. Viewers shared their joy on Twitter.
#hospital was so moving. What incredible battles the staff fight against increasingly pressured resources – go Amaya and Esme!
— Kate Williams (@KateWilliamsme) April 17, 2018
#hospital getting goosebumps watching them work on little Amaya
— jonie1303 #NHSLove (@jonie1303) April 17, 2018
Wow.. Amaya, what a little fighter you are.. so wonderful to see you going home. #hospital
— Julie Crumpton 🌹 #FBPE (@kaleidobrain) April 17, 2018
In tears after that epi: so glad Esme & Amaya are both doing well. Amazing levels of compassion, respect & skill shown by all staff working in the Paediatric Critical Care Unit at Nottingham Children’s #Hospital!
— Matti Colley #FBPE (@matti_colley) April 17, 2018
Amaya is such a very brave little girl 😢 #Hospital
— Iain Makepeace (@IainJoseph89) April 17, 2018
Just caught up with #hospital now crying after following the stories of Esmee & Amaya. Dr Patrick Davies is an absolute legend & inspiration! We are so lucky to have the NHS but this program highlights how much more is needed to keep it going @nottmhospitals @TeamNUH
— Mary Brown (@handywoman31) April 18, 2018
Don’t miss out: Three steps to ensure you see all ED!’s latest news on Facebook
An on-screen update said: “Amaya is doing well and has had no further stays in hospital.”
* Hospital continues on BBC2 at 9pm next Tuesday.
How brave was little Amaya? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!