Woman gets skull surgery after five year wait

Sophie Price (centre) was left in a coma and spent more than three weeks in intensive care after having three strokes

A woman who was missing part of her skull has had surgery to replace the missing bone after waiting for five and a half years.

Sophie Price, from Kidderminster, went into a coma, had three strokes and spent three weeks in intensive care following a crash Bewdley in 2018.

The 24-year-old had been given a temporary titanium skull but it had to be removed after it became infected, which left her scared to leave the house.

"I feel overwhelmed but everything seems to be coming into place now, it's like my life is back on track," Ms Price said.

"I could have died if somebody knocked me but now I don't feel like I'm going to be hit, I don't feel as anxious going out.

"It had a huge impact on my anxiety, but now I feel free," she said.

Part of Ms Price's skull was initially removed in order to allow her brain to swell.

After the surgery she had to learn how to talk and eat again.

Before the surgery, Sophie Price had to wear special headwear to protect her brain

Ms Price's family described the wait for surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham as agonising.

The hospital previously apologised and blamed the wait for Ms Price's surgery on delays caused by the Covid pandemic.

Her stepfather Lee Martin Mildenhall said: "We did say to them if they didn't do it this time they are going to have to find a way to fund it privately for her."

A spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham said: “We are very pleased Sophie is happy with her surgery and that she is now able to confidently lead the life she should expect to be leading."