PIONEERING OPERATION AFTER FUNDRAISING PUSH
GERMAN surgeons are to operate on a plucky teenager to straighten her S-shaped spine. Lucy Huddleston suffers from adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, which is an abnormal twisting and curvature of the backbone. The 15-year-old was due to undergo surgery last year but, due to changes to NHS funding, the operation was cancelled. After being left in limbo her parents, Lisa and Mark, launched a fundraising page for a private procedure overseas. They want her to have surgery called Vertebral Body Tethering, w h i c h aims to straighten the spine, w i t h o u t the need for a fusion. However, they have been told the operation is not available in the UK.
Now, after meeting with a doctor in Germany, Lucy is set to have the surgery in August.
Mr Huddleston, 44, said: “We are ecstatic and the family is happy that we have a date to focus on now.
“We were made aware of the surgeon through a support group and then went to Germany for the consultation.
“He had a look at Lucy’s x-rays and he said she could be a candidate. He then said he’d be happy to carry out the procedure.
“We came away as we had a lot to think about but we feel confident with him, and are looking forward to the next step.”
Lucy first began showing signs of the condition in her early teens as she suffered from joint problems, knee pain and swelling.
And at 13, her parents began to notice her spine did not look straight. Her condition has worsened over the past two years and has left the St Benet Biscop Catholic High School pupil with two large curves in her spine resembling an ‘S’ shape.
Without surgery, Lucy, from Bedlington, Northumberland, could be left with chronic back pain, or damage to her organs.
Her parents believe that spinal fusion, which is available in the UK, could severely restrict her mobility.
Instead, they have been raising money