A young aspiring dancer who suffers with scoliosis is facing a race against time to get a £60k operation in Turkey – to keep her dreams of performing on the West End alive.
Nimble Mia Wright, 14, has been dancing since before she could even go to school and said it was her ‘one and only dream’ to dance on stage.
Despite being diagnosed with scoliosis at seven, the determined dancer has spent most of her life dedicated to her craft.
But she was given just four weeks to raise £60k for a specialist ‘life-changing operation’ in Turkey.
She was told last month that she had ‘no other choice’ but to undergo surgery after x-rays revealed her spine had curved dangerously over 50 degrees.
The NHS currently only offers a spinal fusion, which would effectively end her dreams of dancing on the West End as it would severely limit her flexibility.
But after some research, her mum Jane found a Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT) operation in Turkey and was given the green light for the operation last week.
VBT is a tested form of surgery which hasn’t begun trials in the UK where screws are placed in the spine which slowly straighten the back – much like braces with teeth.
Mia, who has performed onstage at the Wakefield Theatre Royal alongside Sam Nixon, from Sam & Mark, said the surgery would mean ‘the world’ to her.
Mia, from Leeds, West Yorks., said: “I’ve always loved dancing because it lets me escape from different parts of life.
“It’s a safe place and I feel free.
“It’s my one and only dream, I don’t have a back up plan – this is it.
“It’s a scary big operation which is a bit terrifying – but if it will allow me to get back into the studio and dance, it would mean the world to me.”
The inspiring teenager said she wants to let other young people know that they can still follow their dreams.
The Year 10 student added: “I want to show the curve who is boss – it has taken over my life, but I don’t want to let it do so any longer.
“I want to tell others who have scoliosis that you can’t let the curve define you, you can’t let it take over.
“Keep positive, and follow your dreams.”
Concerned mum Jane, 51, noticed her daughter’s ‘rib hump’, which is when the spine and rib rotate so much it becomes visible in the rib cage, in mid July.
On Aug 5, her worst fears came true when an x-ray at Leeds General Infirmary revealed that Mia’s spine had curved over 50 degrees.
Widowed Jane said: “I started researching alternatives and found this treatment in Turkey which would allow her to keep dancing.
“It would change her life, and keep her flexible.
“Not operating now isn’t an option, we have four weeks to raise the money and save my daughter’s dream.”
If Mia doesn’t operate in the next month, she’ll likely have an 80 degree curve by the time she is 40 according to her doctors.
Jane added: “As a mum you noticed these things and I immediately knew that the x-ray would not be good – but when you actually see it it’s so shocking.
“Surgery isn’t a choice. It’s a necessity now and we’re against the clock.
“Thankfully she’s never been in any pain but seeing her flourish and dance – I couldn’t imagine her doing anything else.
“She started going to dance school before she could even go to actual school.
“All she ever wanted to do is just dance.
“I loved watching her dance – it’s just incredible to see her on stage, she’s so amazing.
“As a mum I couldn’t be prouder of her.
“People have said it would be life changing for her to get the surgery – but it truly would.
“For Mia it would mean everything.”
The family first discovered Mia’s condition after Jane noticed that the zipper on her tutu would always pull to the right when she was just seven.
After a meeting at work where she was asked to do research on scoliosis for a magazine, the copywriter said it all ‘started to click’.
After 10 minutes of research, she realised her daughter may have the condition – which was confirmed after an Adams test.
The Adam’s Forward Bend Test is often used to detect suspected scoliosis – where the person leans forward to check for any spinal asymmetries.
Jane said: As a mum I was so worried when she was first diagnosed – I didn’t know what this meant for her.
“We were told after the first appointment with the specialist that it was likely to get worse.
“We were just buying time, and surgery was already mentioned.
“No one knows how it will go and how bad it will get. But all I want is for her to follow her dreams and know she can achieve what she’s always worked for.”
She added: “We’ve been beholden to scoliosis her entire life, this silent thing we couldn’t control.
“But now we have an option to do something about it – so we don’t have to spend each day worrying.”
You can donate here: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/mia039s-fight-to-keep-dancing-with-scoliosis
And follow Mia’s scoliosis journey on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/miasvbtjourney