A brave north-east youngster is due to fly home this weekend after experts in the United States helped her walk for the first time.
Fraserburgh’s Isla McNab, 10, was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and was facing a lifetime in a wheelchair before surgeons cut nerves in her spine in a major operation earlier this month.
The team operated again last Tuesday to stretch Isla’s hamstrings when it was discovered that one of her legs was longer than the other.
The St Andrews school pupil is now preparing to return home to continue her recovery programme with mum, Jane, and dad, Robert, on Sunday.
Last night Mrs McNab said it could take up to two years for Isla to begin walking independently, but the family were thrilled with her progress so far.
“This was always the predicted outcome,” she said.
“The physio staff have been amazing, making her work hard but have fun at the same time.
“I can’t praise them and the doctors and nurses enough.”
Isla’s grandfather, Ronnie McNab, said he was looking forward to getting his granddaughter home.
“She is going to continue doing her physiotheraphy over here,” he said.
“It’s essential that she doesn’t give up the physio because this operation can only be done once. We can’t do it again.
“She is in a bit of pain with some of it, but that’s probably because she’s using muscles she hasn’t before.
“I think everyone is excited by the progress Isla has made up to now and what she will do in the future. We will just have to wait and see.”
Isla is the third child from the north-east to be successfully treated by the surgeon, Dr Tae S Park, in St Louis.
Seven-year-old Elrick-born Adam Walker and three-year-old Peterhead boy Dylan Parson had the same procedure – a selective dorsal rhizotomy – last year.
Supporters in Fraserburgh raised more than £80,000 so the pioneering treatment could go ahead.