Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Op to ease crippling condition cancelled with just days to go Family fear Kerry’s spine will get worse
A DISTRAUGHT family told yesterday how their girl’s crucial operation was cancelled with just days to go.
Kerry Shortt, 13, suffers from crippling scoliosios and spina bifida and had been waiting 18 months for surgery to stall the deterioration in her spine.
Her mum Martina was told on Tuesday the operation had been cancelled – leaving her “scared” the condition could become permanent.
And Martina, from the Glenbawn area of the Poleglass, West Belfast, said it was the second time it was cancelled.
She added: “A consultant who looked at the X-rays described Kerry’s condition as ‘horrific’.
“As he put it, this operation should have happened months ago.
“I’m just so upset about this. We’ve been told it needs to happen and happen as soon as possible or it will not be treatable.
“One doctor said the curvature on Kerry’s spine, which is at 92 degrees now, is so bad you could put another head on her shoulders.
“I ’m a c tu a l ly scared now that if it gets any worse there’s going to be more pressure on her lungs and h e r heart.
It’ll be more difficult for her to breathe. We need this to happen.
“We’ve been seeing the team at Musgrave Park Hospital for about three years but this last year-and-a-half we’ve been waiting for this operation.” Martina said they were offered a cancellation around Christmas time but it was called off at short notice too. Kerr y ’s det eriorating condition means she has not been able to use a standing frame that allows her to remain upright and is part of her physiotherapy.
It is understood the surgery requires a big medical team and one of the s surgeons i nvolved was unable to attend next week’s procedure. A spokesman for Belfast Trust said they were “sorry that this child has had her surgery postponed”.
They added: “We know how difficult it is when planned surgery is cancelled not just for the pati ent by al s o th eir family.
“However, there will a always be occasions when cancellations at short notice is unavoidable – for example i ntensive care beds may be needed for emergencies.
“We do all we can to avoid cancelling and aim to reschedule as soon as possible.”
WEST BELFAST, YESTERDAY