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Thursday, 4 April, 2002, 14:47 GMT 15:47 UK
Kayleigh's spine operation 'a success'
Kayleigh Glenn and her parents
Kayleigh's treatment has been "wonderful"
The family of a severely disabled teenage girl who went to America for surgery said the operations have been "fantastic".

Kayleigh Glenn, from Solihull in the West Midlands, needed two operations - one lasting nine-and-a-half hours - to straighten her spine.

Earlier attempts at a UK hospital had failed.

Her mother, Karen, told BBC Midlands Today: "Kayleigh's back's completely straight now."

Kayleigh Glenn
Kayleigh was in agony after the last operation failed

But the 14-year-old suffered a collapsed lung during surgery and will not be able to fly back to Solihull next week because she needs constant oxygen.

Kayleigh was born with scoliosis, which left her unable to walk - she is also blind.

Titanium rods were inserted in her back to flex with her body and help support her spine.

Half of the £100,000 cost for the operation at the John Hopkins Centre in Baltimore was met by an anonymous well-wisher in the West Midlands.

Kayleigh was operated on last year at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

However, one of the rods became dislodged and threatened to break through her skin, causing her immense pain.

But this time around, the Glenn family is more hopeful.

"The treatment has been wonderful," said Karen Glenn, speaking from Baltimore.

"The surgeon was brilliant - he has done a fantastic job."


Click here to go to BBC Birmingham Online
See also:

28 Sep 01 | England
Kayleigh needs more surgery
14 Aug 01 | Health
Kayleigh parents to sue surgeon
12 Jul 01 | Health
Teenager set for back surgery
09 Jul 01 | Health
Parents' anger over girl's agony
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