Overview
- Lillie Russell was struck by another child on a slide in March 2023, after which clinicians diagnosed accident-induced scoliosis.
- She underwent three spine-stretching procedures under general anaesthetic that failed to correct the curve and led to muscle wasting.
- Her spinal curvature progressed from about 55 degrees to nearly 70 degrees, and she now wears a back brace for roughly 22 hours a day.
- A larger operation to insert metal rods is planned at London's Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, with a final spinal fusion expected when she is older.
- Her family is documenting her journey on Instagram and says travel insurer Staysure enabled a much-needed holiday while they wait for surgery.