She was born with the motor condition, and while she is happy with her life, it has not been as easy as it is for most other children - especially when you are a young teen.
In a bid to change that, the 14-year-old joined 11 other young people with illnesses or disabilities and travelled to Brisbane yesterday with Koru Care Otago.
Every year, the charitable organisation makes dreams come true for these children by taking them to the theme parks on the Gold Coast of Australia.
It was Amy's first time out of the country, and she was excited while checking in her luggage at Dunedin International Airport yesterday.
"It's hard to put into words what this means to me.
"I went on a Koru Care trip to Auckland in 2007. I had such a good time, and it taught me how to be more independent.
"It gave me more trust in myself and my ability. These trips mean a lot to me," she said.
Koru Care Otago committee member and Dunedin Hospital intensive care nurse Maree Fraser said about a dozen Koru Care nurses and carers would travel with the children to provide 24-hour care as they visited attractions including Sea World, Movie World, White Water World, Dreamworld and the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.
The group would return next Thursday, she said.
The Koru Care Otago Charitable Trust was established in 1988, and is made up of Otago personnel from Air New Zealand, the New Zealand Police, and associated groups.
