October marks Pituitary Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the conditions caused by disorders of the pituitary gland — a pea-sized organ that plays a massive role in controlling hormones across the body. For our family, this isn’t just a medical awareness campaign; it’s deeply personal. Our daughter, Amiyah-Leigh, was diagnosed with Panhypopituitarism, a rare and complex condition where the pituitary gland fails to produce critical hormones needed for growth, development, and survival.
Her diagnosis changed our lives overnight and ultimately inspired us to build MyMedicalSupport, a digital medical ID and support platform that we wish had existed when our journey began. Today, as parents and founders, we’re proud to share our story, raise awareness, and show how lived experience has driven innovation to help other families.
Our Story: The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
Amiyah’s challenges began within hours of being born. She started experiencing seizures and health complications that baffled doctors at first. After a series of tests and hospital visits, we learned she had Panhypopituitarism.
For anyone unfamiliar with the condition, it means her body cannot naturally produce vital hormones like cortisol, growth hormone, or thyroid hormone. This puts her at constant risk, especially during times of stress or illness. Something as simple as a cold, a bump on the head, or delayed medication could become life-threatening.
As parents, the weight of this responsibility was overwhelming. We quickly became experts in medication schedules, emergency protocols, and advocating for her needs in medical settings. But what we struggled with most was the communication gap — how do you explain a rare, complex condition in seconds to a first responder, teacher, or even a new doctor who has never heard of it?
The Everyday Reality of Panhypopituitarism
Living with Panhypopituitarism means constant vigilance. We carry emergency injections, keep spare medication everywhere we go, and live with the reality that our daughter may not be able to explain her condition if something happens when she’s alone.
We’ve experienced situations where medical staff didn’t immediately recognise her condition, and precious minutes were lost trying to explain her history. Those moments stay with you as a parent. They fuel a determination to make sure no other family faces the same fear and helplessness in a crisis.
From Personal Experience to Creating a Solution
It was out of these challenges that MyMedicalSupport was born. We asked ourselves:
What if there was a way for first responders and healthcare professionals to access essential medical information instantly, securely, and without confusion?
Our answer was to create a digital medical ID platform, designed for families, individuals, and carers who live with complex conditions like our daughter’s.
With MyMedicalSupport, every user gets a secure online medical profile that can be linked to a bracelet, necklace, card, or key tag with a QR code or NFC chip. In an emergency, scanning that code gives first responders immediate access to critical details such as:
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Medical conditions and diagnoses
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Medications and dosages
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Allergies
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Emergency contacts
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Treatment protocols (e.g., emergency hydrocortisone injections for our daughter)
The platform even sends an SMS alert with a live location to chosen emergency contacts whenever the ID is accessed, providing peace of mind for families and carers.
Why Pituitary Awareness Month Matters
Pituitary Awareness Month isn’t just about medical facts and figures. It’s about stories like our daughter’s. Stories that highlight the daily realities faced by families navigating life with rare and complex conditions.
Awareness leads to understanding. Understanding leads to better support, faster diagnoses, and stronger advocacy. By sharing our journey publicly, we hope to shine a light on what Panhypopituitarism means in real life — and how families like ours can be empowered with the right tools.
How MyMedicalSupport Is Helping Others
Since launching, we’ve seen MyMedicalSupport make a tangible difference for families across the UK. Parents of children with epilepsy, diabetes, autism, rare syndromes, and other conditions are now using the platform to feel safer when their loved ones are out in the world.
It’s not just about technology; it’s about reassurance. For our family, knowing that if Amiyah ever needs help, the people around her will have the information they need instantly, is life-changing. And seeing that same peace of mind spread to other families is the most rewarding part of what we do.
Looking Ahead
This Pituitary Awareness Month, our message is simple: awareness saves lives. Rare conditions like Panhypopituitarism may not be widely understood, but by sharing experiences and building solutions, we can change that.
MyMedicalSupport is more than a platform; it’s a mission born from love, necessity, and determination. We created it for our daughter — but it’s here now for anyone who needs it.
If our story resonates with you, whether you’re a parent, carer, or someone living with a medical condition, we’d love for you to explore how MyMedicalSupport can help. Together, we can make the world a safer place for those who need it most.
How MyMedicalSupport Can Help
MyMedicalSupport provides peace of mind by making vital health information instantly available in an emergency. Whether it’s a rare condition, a chronic illness, severe allergies, or epilepsy, the platform securely stores your essential medical details — including diagnoses, medications, allergies, and emergency contacts. Linked to a bracelet, necklace, or card with a QR code or NFC chip, MyMedicalSupport ensures first responders and healthcare professionals can access the right information at the right time. With built-in SMS alerts that notify loved ones and share your live location when your profile is accessed, MyMedicalSupport empowers families and individuals to feel safer and more supported every day.
