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- Thursday, October 9th, 2008 INSIDE TODAY


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-pages 23 to 39 by Faiza Afzaal


IT must have been ai taH order, b u t school­ boy M a t th ew D iigda le is bn th e road to recovery af te r undergoing life-changing sur­ gery to straig h ten his deformed spine. . And the 15-year-old now stands five inches


taller - boasting a perfect height of 6ft. 4ins. Matthew, who is a Year 11 piipil of Clitheroe


Royal Grammar School, suffered from Scheuer­ mann’s Disease - a condition in which the nor­ mal roundback in the upper spine (called a kyphosis^ is increased. ~ : I t starts in childhood and is thought to ^fect


less th a n one percent of the population. I t occurs mostly in children - affecting boys and girls equally.


■ ' The teenager, who lives with his parents, Mar-


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tyn and Annette, and 17-year-old sister, Lillie, ■ ;in Downham Road, Chatburn, led a healthy life until he began experiencing long periods o f . backache and stiffness at the age of 13. It result­ ed in him developing a curved upper spine. , , ■ Two months ago Matthew underwent an


‘ almost 11-hour operation called an anterior and ' posterior spinal fusion (a procedure where; two metal rods were placed into his back) to correct the curvature. He also had a bone graft. . ' He remained at Alder;Hey;Children’s Hospi­ tal, Livefpool,Tor eight days until he.wM well;


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enough to be discharged home'. Speaking of his sheer strength, throughout the procedure and after, his liiother, Annette, who works as a mid­ wife in the Ribble Valley'and a t Royal-Black­


burn Hospital, said: “The day Matthew had his operation was the longest day of my life. “We are so proud of him. He has been wonder­ ful and I ’m so grateful he is well and his back


• has been straightened. “Matthew has always been so strong and pos­


itive about life and is now receiving regular physiotherapy treatment because his muscles have been stretched out.” The operation’s success has opened up a new


-world to the teenager who is gearing himself up to return to school. Speaking of his perfect posture and the need


for a brandrnew wardrobe, Matthew, who works part-time a t Chatburn Post .Office; said: “I feel great and the pain is slowly going..


. “I ’m happy th a t everything went well. I felt dizzy at first, but now I feel fine. . “With my straightened back, I feel so confi-


‘ dent in myself and am planning to return back to school in a couple of weeks’ time to study for my GCSEs, though I ’m still getting used to my new height as I novy stand taller than my dad! I am also looking forward to buying new clothes.” Matthew went on to thank his family, friends,


teachers and well-wishers for their overwhelmr ing support. “Everyone h ^ been fantastic and sent me lots


of messages of support.” ‘ ; . Our picture shows Matthew with his mother, father and sister (A300908/la;)--


CLITHEROE CASTLETO HAVE NEW £50,000 CHILDREN’S AOVENTURE PLAY AREA-see page 3 g g g g Christy- • . ■ D o rm a :


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