In the United Kingdom, a little girl suffering from Rett syndrome, leading in particular to severe scoliosis, is no longer operable, although her surgery has been postponed seven times.
- In the United Kingdom, Eva Tennent, a 10-year-old girl, is inoperable for her scoliosis after seven postponements of the operation.
- The first three postponements were due to staff shortages at Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- The little girl suffers from Rett syndrome, a rare disease that impairs the development of the central nervous system.
His operation has been postponed seven times and, now, Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospitalin Scotland, judges that Eva Tennent, a little girl suffering from Rett syndrome, is no longer operable for her scoliosis.
Inoperable scoliosis due to postponement of surgery
The 10-year-old girl suffers from Rett syndrome, a rare disease that impairs the development of the central nervous system. According to the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), “sick little girls have a severe intellectual disability and present multiple complications, including respiratory and cardiovascular problems”. Over the years, the child’s condition deteriorates and may suffer from multiple disabilities, accompanied by epilepsy, spasticity or even scoliosis.
Little Eva Tennent has severe scoliosis. In May 2022 it was 60.89 degrees, in 2023 it was 107.9 degrees and now it is 110 degrees. “They waited so long, and now they say it’s too late, indicates Jill Lockhart, the child’s mother, at BBC. I feel like my daughter’s chances of survival have been sacrificed.”
The first three times the girl’s surgery was postponed, it was due to a lack of staff at the hospital. “In September, October and November she was deemed operable and these operations were only canceled due to lack of beds and nurses”, explains Jill Lockhart.
The other four times, it was because of the little girl’s state of health, particularly her breathing difficulties. For the mother, the first three postponements are responsible for the deterioration of her daughter’s health because, due to scoliosis, her organs are under significant pressure.
The little girl is in danger of dying
According to Inserm, for the moment, there is no curative treatment for Rett syndrome. Managing symptoms only helps improve patients’ quality of life. With the surgery she had to have, Eva Tennent could “live another 15 to 30 years” while without, “she risks dying”.
“We were told last week that the operation could take place on March 28, continues Jill Lockhart. Today we are told she is inoperable and I can’t get an explanation from the hospital as to why the situation changed so quickly.”
