A TEENAGE girl is locked in a race against the clock to get life-changing spinal surgery.

Imogen Bridge was diagnosed with scoliosis when aged just 10, after she began suffering from pains in her legs and her mum noticed she had a curved back.

The 14-year-old, who lives in Bacup, also has connective-tissue disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which has complicated her spinal problems.

The curve in her back, which is getting progressively worse as she gets older, has now increased to 44 degrees and will eventually stop her from breathing.

Known as ‘Midge’ to her friends, the teenager is consigned to a brace to help straighten her back and prevent her condition worsening

But she desperately needs specialist surgery before she finishes growing to correct the curve in her back and preserve her mobility.

“It has been really hard,” she said.

“The brace makes me uncomfortable and feel too hot. I can’t run around very much.

“It stops me from doing things that I love and I get tired really easily.

“I used to faint all the time and I get hives and lesions that get really itchy and horrible.

“I find it really embarrassing when I go out and it makes me feel self conscious.

“I just don’t want to be different from everyone else.”

Her family are now desperately seeking to fundraise £45,000 to afford a life-changing surgery in Turkey.

The procedure, known as vertebral body tethering (VBT), attaches a flexible cord that will pull her spine straight and keep her as mobile as possible.

Efforts to fundraise have so far been successful but they still require almost £40,000.

Her parents have even tried to remortgage their home to be able to pay for the operation.

Imogen’s mum, Mel said: “We just want her to have these last few years of her childhood.

“Once she’s had this surgery she’s going to be better, with a straighter back.

“She wants the freedom to pursue the rest of her life and not have this to worry about.”

To find out more go to https://just4children.org/children-helped2020/midges-scoliosis-journey/