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Brave Laura endures operation on spine
Laura Di Cesare with her signed Posh shirt following her life-saving operation to straighten her spine. Photo supplied
A BRAVE teenage girl has spoken of how she endured major surgery to correct a curving spine which threatened her life.
Laura Di Cesare (14), of Oakdale Avenue, Stanground, risked paralysis when she underwent the life-saving, six-hour operation at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, last month.
The Stanground College pupil’s GP diagnosed her with scoliosis last May after her family noticed irregularities in the shape of her hips and shoulder blades.
As time moved on, Laura’s spine became increasingly curved and twisted to the point where her internal organs were at risk of being crushed.
Her mother Kirsty (40) said she and her husband Pep (42) were scared about the risk of paralysis to Laura if the operation went wrong but they felt they had no choice but to go ahead with it.
She said: “Because they were working so close to the spinal cord she could have been paralysed, but we had to take that risk as it would have killed her otherwise because her spine would have kept on curving and curving.”
During the six-hour procedure, Laura, who is also diabetic, had to have two titanium rods bolted to her spine to straighten it and part of her vertebrae made into a paste to spread along the length of the column to strengthen it.
Despite her parents’ concern, Laura said she was at ease immediately before the operation.
She said: “I was quite calm about it. When we were going down for the operation I was fine.”
This was in part, she said, because she wanted the problem resolved so that she could go out and wear clothes that did not cover her back.
She said: “I was getting excited because the longer I waited the more I wanted it.
“I was excited about being able to wear what I wanted and go out more.
“I didn’t used to go out because of what I had to wear. I couldn’t wear what other people were wearing. I had to wear jumpers and stuff that covered my back.”
Laura spent two days in intensive care following the surgery on January 17 and was back at home on January 23, days ahead of schedule, after setting herself a target of being out of hospital in time for her sister Rosanna’s 13th birthday on January 27.
As a result of the operation she is now three inches taller than the 4ft 9in she was before.
Laura said: “I’m more confident now.”
Her mother said: “She has changed so much, just in herself.
“She’s so happy. Even her diabetes is not impacting as much as it was before.”
Laura may spend up to 14 weeks off school as she recovers from her procedure, but she has daily visitors from her friends from Stanground College.
The Posh season ticket holder also received a special visit from Peterborough United player Tommy Rowe thanks to a friend of her mother, Posh retail manager Emma Green.
The play-off final goal-scoring hero brought Laura a Posh shirt with her name emblazoned on it and signed by the team.
Her mum said Laura was “overwhelmed” by the visit.
Laura said: “It was a really big surprise.
“It was really weird because I have never spoken to a football player face-to-face before.”
Tommy Rowe told the ET: “I had spoken to Laura’s parents ahead of the operation and was happy to go and see her once she had recovered from the operation. It is amazing what she has gone through. She showed me the pictures of her back and she has been very brave. I hope her recovery continues to go well.”
Laura thanked Posh for the visit and fellow supporters who have asked after her following her operation.
She said: “I think it helps you recover because you want to go and see them and tell them all about it and say how well I have done.”
The experience at Addenbrooke’s has cemented Laura’s desire to become a nurse when she is older.
She said: “I have always thought I wanted to be a nurse. I wasn’t really sure, but now I really do want it.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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AshamedPeterboroughResident
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:43 AMWhat a brave girl! Best of luck to her in future recovery
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