Hayden’s on the road to recovery after operation

JUST eight weeks after undergoing life-changing spinal surgery, Strabane lad, Hayden Kelly is well along the road to recovery, according to a recent check-up and X-ray.

Hayden (12), who suffers from scoliosis (a curvature of the spine), recently travelled to Musgrave Hospital with his mum, Shauna Kildea for the post-surgery examination.

There the consultants were very impressed with the results of the fusion surgery Hayden had in Turkey in September.

Fantastic

“We’re really, really pleased,” enthused mum, Shauna this week.

“I knew he was doing really well myself but to see it on the X-ray, it was really good. It’s looking fantastic, thank God.

“What they’re going to do now is refer him to the physio which we’re over the moon about because we’d like to see him a bit more active.”

Earlier this summer Hayden’s family began a mammoth fund-raising drive to help get the £50,000 needed to take him to Turkey, as the operation wasn’t available on the NHS.

“People were amazing,” Shauna continued. “So many donated and even eight weeks later I’m still finding this unbelievable. If it wasn’t for people raising money and donating we wouldn’t be where we are now.

“We’re in a great position now after having the surgery and he’s doing so well,” she continued.

“We did always plan on going back to Turkey; maybe after Christmas for the team over there to see his progression. It would still be good to get Dr Alanay’s opinion.

“But he’s flying now and he’s due back at school after Christmas, which will be good.

“We’ve a lot to be thankful. We’re so blessed and so appreciative to everyone for their help.”

Adam B

And Hayden was an especially happy boy on Monday when one of his heroes, Adam B came to visit him at home.

Adam Beales, known as Adam B, is a YouTuber, actor, and television host from Derry, and is the former co-presenter of the CBBC shows The Dog Ate My Homework and Blue Peter.

“He was so happy,” Shauna laughed. “He couldn’t believe that Adam B was standing beside him in his room!”