Carnoustie twins Ayley and Chloe Hirsch are set to return to America for the first time since a life-changing operation.
Mum Averil will fly out with the four-year-old girls on Friday to go back to see Dr TS Park and his team at the St Louis Children’s Hospital for a check-up and physio.
Since the girls underwent surgery to restore the use of their legs in January last year they have amazed everyone with their progress.
Chloe is now able to walk with just her sticks, while Ayley has been walking and running for more than a year.
Dr Park has been very happy with their progress and he has also been keeping up to date with videos on Averil’s Facebook page.
The only nagging concern for Averil, though, is that one of her girls might require an operation while they are out there.
Averil said: “We’re really looking forward to it and the girls are really excited as well. We’ll be returning to see Dr Park to get his opinion on how the girls are doing and on their progress so far.
“They will also have physio for two weeks solid for two hours a day and I can’t wait to see how they get on. Dr Park will be able to give us an indication of what lies ahead.
“Ayley might need another operation on her heel cords and her hamstring to be lengthened. I’m a little nervous about that but I’m hoping that’s not something that is going to need to be done just now.
“Hopefully that’ll be a no just now but if it’s a yes we’ll do it while we’re there and it’ll be a one-day surgery and time to recover then straight into physio.
“I’m pretty confident she won’t need it so we’ll see what happens. That’s the only nagging worry about going out.”
The girls undergo physio during the week and they also work on a treadmill and leg press at their house.
Ayley and Chloe have also been enjoying building up their strength by taking to horseback at the Brae Riding for the Disabled centre, outside Dundee.
Averil said: “You wouldn’t think Ayley has cerebral palsy the way she runs about the house. She’s on her scooter, on her bike, on her trampoline and she can run about with her friends now.
“It’s a miracle really. The girls are so well known in Carnoustie now and everyone stops to ask how they are getting on.
“Everybody follows our Facebook page very closely and hopefully we’ll be able to give everyone more good news from America.”