Mum is ‘ready for fight’ after her lifesaving op
AMUM battling a rare condition which means her spine is being crushed by her own skull is recovering in hospital after undergoing life-saving surgery.
Samantha Smith raised almost £150,000 to pay for the procedure after a shock diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos syndrome (EDS).
She underwent a five and half hour operation in Washington DC on Wednesday carried out by world-leading neurosurgeon Dr Fraser Henderson.
The complex procedure saw the mum-of-two, from Smithy Bridge, have her spine compressed and marrow taken from her hip to create new bone to strengthen vertebrae in her back.
In an update on Facebook Samantha’s family said the surgery had gone ‘extremely well’ adding her spine had been ‘fully straightened/restructured.’
They wrote: “We have since spoken to Samantha and although she was uncomfortable, she is ready for the fight ahead.
“She passes on her thanks to all who have supported, fund raised and wished her well.
“Without you all we would not have got this far. Samantha now has the chance to resume her life in the way she would wish.
“The next few days and weeks will be very telling and will require a lot of strength, determination to get Samantha through the pain. As soon as she is able Samantha will update.”
EDS is a genetic condition that affects just one in 5,000 people in the UK and weakens the body’s connective tissues causing pain, dislocations and cardiac abnormalities.
Samantha, who worked as a psychotherapist, underwent years of tests and endured terrible pain before being diagnosed last year.
In her case the condition is crushing her brain and spine as it has made the ligaments in her neck too weak to support her head.
Hundreds of people have donated to help Samantha fund the op.
In an interview last month Samantha told how her condition was deteriorating rapidly and that she ‘required surgery ASAP.’
She added: “There are very, very few surgeons in the world who can perform this procedure and Dr Henderson is my preferred option as it will hopefully leave me with more mobility at the end, which is very important to me.
“I feel really lucky and thankful that we have raised the £150,000 needed for the surgery.
“It has been an incredible response in just nine weeks and I want to say a massive thank-you to everyone, far and wide, who has helped out.”
“She now has the chance to resume her life in the way she would wish”