Teenage Ballet dancer from Aberdeen to fly to America for back surgery
14-year-old Lilly Bannerman hopes the operation could save her prospects of a career in dance
Last updated 29th Sep 2021
A 14-year-old Ballet dancer from Aberdeen is set to jet off to Philadelphia in the United States for major surgery on her spine.
Lilly Bannerman hopes the procedure can help save her chances of a career in her beloved ballet, after she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Scoliosis earlier this year.
The condition means Lilly has a bend in her spine, with her's particularly serious.
Surgery available to Lilly here in the UK would involve metal screws and rods being put into her back, which would limit her mobility and ability to dance.
Instead her family have been seeking out Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) where a flexible cord is used to enable flexibility and mobility to be maintained and allowing the child to continue growing.
Now they've had a date confirmed, with Lilly and Mum Nicola set to fly out to Philadelphia for the procedure on October 20th.
Nicola told Northsound:
"She'll still be able to bend, she'll still be able to touch her toes.
"For a girl of 14, and being a dancer and wanting to dance as a career, that was the best option they could find for her.
"She just wants to be a normal 14-year-old girl without having these obstacles in her way.
"She just wants to be able to continue doing PE in School, doing dancing, following it as a career.
"I'd spent weeks and months googling as much as possible to find the best surgeons out there."
There will be still be a nervous wait though, with more X-rays required when Lilly arrives state side to check if she's still suitable for the surgery.
The operation usually costs £40,000 to perform, which the family had been crowd funding for, but Shriners Hospital for Children say they'll operate on Lilly for free.
Having already raised £7,000 Nicola says that will go towards travel and accommodation costs.
"To be honest I'm quite overwhelmed that all those people have felt they can help us like that." she said.
"Didn't really expect it.
"So far it's been amazing, we are really grateful for everyone that's helped so far."
You can read more about Lilly's story here.