Kylie Ann’s 6-yr wait for op could be over next month

But family remain anxious after so many cancelled procedures in past

A SCHOOLGIRL with scoliosis is desperately hoping her agonising six-year wait for life-changing surgery could soon be over.

The Irish Mirror reported last month how Kylie Ann Stewart, 10, is one of more than 300 children who need surgery for scoliosis, a disease which causes a sideways curvature of the spine.

After seven-year-old Limerick boy Noah Quish had spinal surgery on Monday, Kylie Ann’s parents were told her procedure could be next month.

Her mum Catherine said: “We have been told that it is going to be in the middle of May.

“It is very hard to believe it will go ahead. It is a pressure we don’t need. All we want is a confirmed date but we still don’t have one.

“We were told before that Kylie Ann would have surgery within weeks but that time came and went, so we fear empty promises.

“We’ve had little Noah’s surgery in the back of our head all week, hoping for him that his surgery goes ahead.

“Hopefully now Kylie Ann’s surgery will go ahead too.”

After five years of cancelled ops, there is a lot of anxiety about whether Kylie Ann’s surgery will go ahead.

The family was in Dublin at Crumlin Children’s Hospital – the same as Noah and were told Kylie Ann’s spine is now so curved that her lungs are being crushed and her breathing capacity is down to 54% and will never recover fully.

Catherine said: “Our daughter has now lost 46% lung capacity. That’s a big shock and to be told it will never be 100% again is so difficult.

“They hope to get it back up to 70% but there has to be responsibility for these children waiting for surgery. “Their spines are curving and crushing their lines. Kylie Ann is dreading surgery.”

Delays to surgery emerged in 2022 when Temple Street Children’s Hospital cancelled lifer-changing spine ops for kids.

Kylie Ann’s curve means she is in so much pain she cannot sit in her wheelchair due to the friction on her back – so she lies on the floor to ease her pain.

Six years ago, hers family was told she needed surgery and that it needed to happen within the year.

Kylie Ann’s spine has a curvature of 138 degrees and doctors fear it could become inoperable if she doesn’t get surgery soon.

Her parents were warned she may need two surgeries before her curvature goes another 10 degrees.

Catherine yesterday told the Irish Mirror: “We desperately hope that the operation is confirmed for next month and that it goes ahead.”