A YOUNG Kildare girl suffering from scoliosis said she is frightened and scared that she won’t get a life changing operation.
13-year-old Maria Stokes from Kildare town, known as Rosy by her family and friends, spoke out on the Ray Darcy Show on Friday afternoon about her plight. She was diagnosed with curvature of the spine five years ago and started an awareness campaign this week as 174 children with similar conditions are on a waiting list for the operation.
Maria’s condition has escalated rapidly from a 20% curvature when she was first diagnosed in January 2009 to 95% today.
Maria Stokes from Kildare town pictured with her mum Helen
Her mother Helen opened up about her frustration this week to the national media. Despite having undergone numerous pre-op procedures and obtaining a letter from a consultant orthopaedic surgeon stressing the severity of Maria’s case, the teen has yet to be placed on a waiting list.
“I spoke with the spinal nurse on Tuesday and was told that the surgery list for theatre for the next six weeks has come out and Maria’s name is not on it. This is the last straw,” she said.
Maria told the Ray Darcy show that if she had one wish it would be for the operation.
“Every day I cry because I’m afraid I won’t get it,” she said. “I find it frightening. I wish I didn’t have it and I could grow up normally.”
Helen has set up an online petition and has received support from over 1,000 members of the public, but it may not be enough, given the current scoliosis services.
There are currently 174 children on the waiting list including that of another young teenager from Kildare who asked not to be named.
The 14-year-old’s mother added that logically the ever increasing wait doesn’t make sense as scoliosis conditions worsen and this in turn leads to longer and more costly surgeries followed by longer recovery times.
“My daughter does nothing now, she is extremely self conscious. For teenage girls in particular it is really difficult,” she said.
“It is awful to see your child getting worse. It affects her everyday life, there is pain involved and she is missing school because of it.”
