The family of a north-east schoolgirl has thanked supporters for helping her secure potentially life-changing surgery which could enable her to walk for the first time.
Isla McNab, who has cerebral palsy, has been approved for an operation at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.
It follows a massive fundraising campaign by the local community, who rallied around and pulled out all the stops to raise nearly £70,000 for the Fraserburgh youngster’s treatment.
Yesterday, grandfather Ronnie McNab said the family hoped Isla will get her treatment early next year.
“Its just wonderful news,” he said. “We haven’t got a date for the operation, but we are hoping it will happen in January. She’s on the waiting list.
“We’d just like to say a huge thank you to the local community for all its efforts. Without everyone’s support, this wouldn’t have been possible.
“It was just amazing how everyone rallied behind Isla.”
Mum Jane, 43, added: “This is really a dream come true for Isla and it is what we have always wanted.”
The operation will involve cutting nerves at the back of the schoolgirl’s legs to allow her to walk. This will be followed by three weeks of intensive physiotherapy.
Isla weighed just 1lb 10oz when she was born 10 weeks prematurely in 2005.
At only four weeks old, Isla developed necrotising enterocolitis and needed a life-saving operation to remove part of her bowel.
Her mum and dad, Robert, were worried Isla could be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, until they heard about the work of St Louis Children’s hospital which offers specialist treatment to children who have mobility problems.
Fundraising for Isla, who is a primary five pupil at St Andrews School, began in January. A total of £50,000 was raised to fund the operation, plus a further £15,000 to pay for the physiotherapy programme.