A schoolgirl who is recovering from surgery to amputate part of her leg and foot is “absolutely smashing” her physiotherapy exercises, her mother has said.
Shannon O’Hagan, (11) from the Creggan area of Derry, had her left foot and part of her leg removed just over a month ago.
The bubbly schoolgirl, who is Year 8 at St Cecilia’s College, will have her first prosthesis appointment at Musgrave Park Hospital in three weeks.
She is eagerly looking forward to going horse riding with her friends again, at Sherriff Mountain Stables, as soon as she gets the go ahead from her doctors.
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Speaking to The Irish News, her mother Aisling O’Hara told how Shannon’s surgery was necessary because she was born with the condition Fibular Hemimelia – meaning she has no fibula in her left leg.
“The fibula is the long bone in the lower leg which runs from the knee to the ankle,” said Aisling.
“Shannon had no leg below her knee when she was born, just four wee toes.
“Four different surgeons came down from Belfast and examined her the night she was born, and I was told then she had Fibular Hemimelia. From there it has been back and forth to Musgrave Park,” said Aisling.
Shannon wore successive heavy plastic splints, which strapped around the front of her leg, until she was four and then a shoe brace until she was six in a bid make both legs an even length.
When this failed doctors suggested another procedure to stretch the bone, slowly, over six months, to manipulate new bone to grow in the middle of a break in the fibia.
“Out of that, we would have got a maximum of two centimetres lengthening and Shannon would have had to get this major surgery done three or four times. She would also have had to get a metal rod placed inside her leg.
“We were put in touch with a young fella who had gotten this surgery, and he said the rod was really heavy and getting the pins turned was very painful.
“There was also a chance that the surgery wouldn’t work, and Shannon would have had to have had an amputation anyway,” said Aisling.
By this time, Shannon was unable to walk without extreme foot pain.
Aisling said they gave a great deal of thought to Shannon undergoing an amputation.
“It needed to be carried out sooner rather than later,” said Aisling, “before Shannon took another growth spurt.
“My leg is healing brilliantly. I got my bandages off four days ago and I am doing wheelies in my wheelchair,” Shannon joked.
“My sister, Saoirse and my best friend, Grace, have been brilliant this whole time. I can’t wait to take my dog, Buddy, for a proper walk when I get my prosthetic leg, hopefully by the end of the summer.”
Her mother added:
“We are just so grateful for all the prayers, so grateful for all of our neighbours and so grateful for family and friends and most importantly the Royal Victoria Hospital for every single thing they have done for Shannon – their patience and their aftercare.
“Shannon was afraid, but she smashed it and went through it. I am amazed at Shannon and so proud. I am so relieved now and we are looking forward to what the future is offering rather than before the operation when there was only dread.”
