Brave Chatburn teenager's bid to walk properly again

8:48am Tuesday 6th May 2008

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A TEENAGER is set to undergo a 10-hour operation to help him walk properly.

Matthew Dugdale, 15, of Downham Road, Chatburn, suffers from Scheuermann's disease, a rare disorder that causes curvature of the spine and affects around five to eight per cent of the population.

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Now brave Matthew, a year 10 student at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School, is ready to go under the knife at Alder Hey children's hospital in August.

The teenager was diagnosed with Scheuermann's in March 2007 after he spent a family holiday suffering with a painful back.

He went for a private consultation which revealed he has a 93 per cent curvature of the spine - meaning he cannot walk completely upright.

He said: "I cannot really sit in the front seat of cars and it affects the lower back.

"It makes me uncomfortable, although it was not as bad last year as it is now but I take strong painkillers.

"It does not restrict me in terms of what I can't do but it affects the way I walk."

The intricate operation is called a spinal fusion and involves metal pins or rods being inserted into Matthew's back.

If the operation is successful, it means the football-loving schoolboy will become a few inches taller and should enable him to be more active.

"I am up for it and if it came round tomorrow I would say yes," he added.

"I would rather get it over and done with.

"There will be things I will not be able to do, like play rugby, but I should be fine with football."

Matthew, who also works part-time at Chatburn post office, lives with mum Annette, 46, dad Martyn, 47, and 17-year-old sister Lillie.

Annette said: "He is a very positive young man. He's 15 and the disorder is quite prominent.

"It has affected him by being quite painful and at his age you just want to fit in."

Matthew is organising a food and drink night to raise money for Alder Hey and Chatburn playing fields at Chatburn Primary School on Monday June 9 from 7pm.

Tickets are £10 and are available from www.chatburnevents.co.uk or by calling 07842 608793.