Jamie prepares for live-saving op in London

JAMIE Murphy, the little girl at the centre of the controversy over waiting lists at the country’s largest hospital for sick children, was in good form yesterday as she prepared for life-saving surgery in London.

Surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital hope to operate on the 11-year-old today to correct the child’s curved spine which is crushing vital organs, a highly-complicated surgical procedure.

Jamie’s surgery bill, which could cost up to €150,000, will be paid by an anonymous benefactor, described as an ordinary individual who was moved by media reports of her plight.

Jamie, who suffers from spina bifida and scoliosis, was with her parents, Emer and Peter, and her aunt, Triona O’Brien, when she underwent pre-operation tests in the hospital before undergoing the spinal fusion surgery today.

Triona, who said Jamie was in good form yesterday, was confident that the operation will go ahead as planned today.

The surgery requires surgeons to break bones in Jamie’s back and insert straight steel rods to correct the curvature of her spine.

Because of scoliosis, the girl’s lungs, heart, kidneys and stomach are under intense pressure and her ability to breathe severely compromised.

Green Party deputy leader, Mary White, has spent the past three weeks highlighting Jamie’s case and the issue of scoliosis treatment for other children in Ireland.

“I will be keeping my fingers crossed that Jamie will have a very successful operation and, of course, it is absolutely fantastic that a benefactor has come forward to fund the cost of the procedure,” she said.

Ms White went to see Jamie in her home in Graignamanagh in Co Kilkenny last Monday to wish them all the best.

“Jamie knew that she was going to London for a big operation that, as she put it herself, was going to help her,” said Ms White.

“She is a wonderfully bright as a button child — a courageous little girl, who has been dealt a very tough blow,” she said.

Ms White claimed that since Jamie’s plight was highlighted the needs of other scoliosis patients at Crumlin were now being met.

She also pointed out that up to the time the family went public she had been working quietly in the background on their behalf.

“It was because the family were grateful that I was helping them that my name slipped out,” she said.

Jamie, an avid Hannah Montana fan, who has lots of friends is looking forward to a huge party, complete with a bouncy castle and lots of cake when she returns home.