Florence Seager, 11, has pioneering scoliosis surgery

Florence said she now feels that she has the chance to do things she has always wanted to do

An 11-year-old girl with scoliosis has had a potentially life-changing operation to straighten her spine.

Florence Seager, from Burntwood in Staffordshire, had to travel to Turkey for the surgery.

Her family raised more than £50,000 for the treatment, which is not available on the NHS, through crowdfunding.

Before, Florence, a triplet, had to wear a brace for 23 hours a day, but the scoliosis was still causing her spine to curve.

"I feel happy that I'm finally fixed," she said.

"I've got the chance to finally do things that I've wanted to do."

She said she was still getting used to the feeling after wearing the brace for so long.

Florence's spine before her surgery, compared to her identical triplet (left)

The procedure - known as vertebral body tethering - took place earlier this month and aims to straighten her spine slowly.

Developed in the USA, it is only suitable for some patients who are still growing and the Scoliosis Association has called for more research into the long-term outcomes and benefits.

It is not routinely commissioned by the NHS, however without the surgery Florence would have needed a major operation every six to nine months to fuse her spine, her family said.

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During the 10-hour surgery, screws were fixed in the side of her spine to hold a tether to keep her spine straight, her mother Corrine Seager said.

'Best Christmas present'

"There was a lot of organisation... we had to get special permission to fly because we were flying during lockdown," she said.

She will be monitored over the coming years, but the medical team hope no more operations will be required.

"Her curve could start being naughty again, but we hope, and [the] team in Turkey are hopeful, that doing this procedure now will sort her out," she added.

"We've been saying it's the best Christmas present ever."

The family returned from Istanbul a couple of weeks ago and have had to self isolate at home.