Like many 15-year-olds, Ava is hardworking at school, loves animals and dreams of one day becoming a veterinarian. But behind her determination and big aspirations lies a daily challenge that most teenagers never have to face.
As a baby and young child, Ava spent years under the care of multiple specialist teams and allied health professionals, with numerous hospital admissions, investigations and health scares along the way.
In 2018, genetic testing confirmed she had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a condition that affects the body's connective tissues and can impact multiple systems throughout the body.
As a result of her EDS, fatigue, joint dislocations and subluxations (partial dislocation) are a regular part of life. Chronic pain affects her whole body, particularly her hips, knees and shins, leading to major orthopaedic surgery.
Ava has also been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (abnormally fast heart rate and dizziness when moving from sitting or lying down to standing up), mast cell activation syndrome (immunological condition causing severe allergic symptoms across the body) and eosinophilic oesophagitis (inflammatory disorder swelling and irritation of the oesophagus), adding further complexity to her health journey.
Ava was referred to the Queensland Paediatric Interdisciplinary Persistent Pain Service at the Queensland Children’s Hospital in 2024. Since then, she has been working with a multidisciplinary team including pain specialists, a physiotherapist, psychologist, occupational therapist and music therapist to learn strategies to better manage her pain, stay engaged in the activities she enjoys and build confidence in her everyday life.
"I've needed to learn from professionals how to pace myself and, by doing this, I feel 10 times better," Ava said.
Ava hopes her experience will encourage other young people and families facing similar challenges.
"Don't be afraid to reach out for help and stay positive," she said.
Ava continues to pursue her goals with resilience and determination, proving that a chronic condition does not have to stand in the way of a bright future.