An Angus girl’s dream of becoming the first Scottish child to receive a life-changing operation in the UK has finally been rubber-stamped.
Brooke Ramsay, from Carnoustie, has been approved for a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) procedure in England, which will see surgeons cut nerves in her spinal chord in a bid to reverse the effects of cerebral palsy.
The formality of permission being granted by Dr Kristian Aquilina and his team was the last in a series of hurdles Brooke’s parents Stewart and Laura have overcome since they began a campaign for funding in August last year.
Brooke was assessed earlier this month during a one-day visit to the Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, which is becoming known as a specialist site for SDR.
Laura (32), a social care officer, said the family had not expected to be given the news until the end of the month.
She added: ”It is just unbelievable. That’s it she is getting her operation and we just have to wait on a date now.
”The support we have had from people has been unbelievable. We were not expecting anything but people just kept coming forward to help and holding fundraising events for us.
”We can’t thank them enough.
”Brooke has a lot of hard work ahead but it will make such a difference to her.”
The Brooke’s Dream fund raised £60,000 and has now been closed, with the Ramsays intending to disperse £24,000 between local charities after the NHS agreed to fund the operation.