Published: Thursday, 4th December, 2008 15:55
Hope at last for Dunfermline brain op tot Millie
By Matt Meade
Comments (0)
Print Article
Pic by: Dunfermline Press
THE family of Millie Mackenzie – the little girl who can have up to 19 seizures a day – have finally been given a date for the operation that could improve her life dramatically.
She will undergo surgery in February at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, under the watchful eye of world-renowned paediatric neurosurgeon William Harkness and his team of specialists.
As reported in the Press in October, the operation will involve removing part of Millie’s brain that causes the fits.
The five-year old, from Bergen Avenue, has epilepsy and learning difficulties and can suffer daily fits that leave her wheelchair-bound.
News of the operation ends months of anxiety for Millie’s family, who have so far visited London five times for consultations.
Mum Kelly (38) said, “The surgeon handpicks his own team for operating and they are all the cream of the crop, so she can’t be in safer hands.
“What he expects and hopes is that we will see a gradual improvement in her overall development.
"It won’t be an overnight thing as it’s something that will take a while.
“Like any surgery there are risks. But, to be fair, they are very small.
“After our last visit, he told us that under no circumstances would he even be discussing it if he didn’t feel it would greatly improve the quality of her life.
“Those were his parting words to us, which made us feel really feel good about it.”
It is thought Millie’s epilepsy was caused by a mini-stroke while she was still in the womb.
The left front focal resection procedure will take between four and six hours and the risk remains more abnormalities will be found that do not show up on scans.
However, the family, including dad Mark (36) and sister Robyn (17), are optimistic of a positive outcome, with Millie having a 50 per cent chance of being seizure free.
Kelly continued, “We’d like to have better odds but we just need to have faith.
"Mark and I have to make the decision for her so it’s a big thing.
“There are days when you think, ‘Are we doing the right thing?’ but if it wasn’t for my family and friends I don’t know where we’d be. I cannot stress enough how important they have been to us.”
Kelly praised staff at Calaiswood School, Dunfermline, for their outstanding support in helping Millie progress.
“Every therapy Millie needs, from speech therapy to hydrotherapy, you name it, it is on hand,” she said.
“They are so on the ball and have been a huge support to the family. Robyn has started working there as a pupil support assistant too.
“When I drive into the school car park Millie claps and laughs. When you tell her in the morning where she’s going she acts like it’s Christmas – she loves it.
“She’s a delight and the centre of our world.”
She added, “I think the resources up here must be very different from what people have to fight for in London, so we feel very fortunate”.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
'Too sexy' shop finally opens in Dunfermline