Speedy Anna is now award-winning

In 2020, we spoke to Anna Turner and her Mum Jenna from Waringstown, Northern Ireland, to get their perspective on living with hypophosphatasia (HPP). In 2024 we caught up with Jenna again to see how Anna, now 12, is doing. 

Great to talk to you again! How is Anna doing? 

She’s doing well! She’s now at secondary school, which was quite a jump. It took some time to get used to the physical aspect of it, such as having to travel more, and she gets really tired in the evenings, but she’s grand.

The transition into secondary school meant more walking, with heavier books to carry. We made reasonable adjustments with the school, for example, having space to leave books so she doesn’t have to carry them around all the time. It was just a question of finding out what adjustments would work for Anna at the beginning.

She had two surgeries last year on her knees. She had plates put in and was on crutches, but didn’t even miss a lot of school. She recovered really quickly after the surgery, she was brilliant.

Her treatment continues to keep her condition under control, so we’ve just been living a normal life. Anna was in the shielding category during COVID and was not allowed anywhere, so she was just constantly in the garden, but since then, it’s been fine. We’ve even been away to the sun a couple of times, which was lovely.

You previously talked about the need for greater compassion for people who have hidden disabilities. Do you think attitudes have changed since last we spoke?

We still get funny looks sometimes when we use our Blue Badge to park somewhere. People assume we’re not allowed to use one because neither my husband or I have a disability and assume we’re playing the system in some way. I can understand that – it’s kind of human instinct. We’ve not had any bad experiences though.

Anything else you’d like to mention?

Anna won an award for endeavour at prize day at school and now has a very beautiful glass trophy! I’m very proud, but slightly worried the trophy will get broken…might need to store it somewhere else!

Read Rare bone disease can’t stop speedy Anna