A DISABLED 24-year-old says she is "overjoyed" to finally have surgery to replace part of her skull after waiting more than five years.
Sophie Price, who lives in Kidderminster, suffered life-threatening injuries following a horror car crash in Bewdley in 2018.
Following the incident, Ms Price, who was a student at Kidderminster College at the time, was admitted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she underwent an operation to repair a severed artery in her neck. She also suffered a broken nose, skull and eye socket fractures, a bleed on the brain and a collapsed lung.
Complications after her artery operation led to her suffering a major stroke, and subsequent strokes, which lasted up to four days. Portions of her skull and brain were removed to stop swelling in two further life-saving operations. She had to learn how to speak, eat and walk again.
She was later given a titanium plate to replace the skull, but this was removed after it became infected.
Ms Price and her family have waited years for surgery to replace the missing bone in her skull. Cranioplasty surgery was finally carried out in June this year.
Ms Price's stepfather, Lee Mildenhall said: "The last five years have been nothing short of a living nightmare watching a teenage girl miss her early twenties due to not being able to get the surgery Sophie needed to protect her from further brain damage, or at worst, death from being knocked on the head where the skull was missing.
"It has taken hours upon hours, emails, phone calls and the help of BBC Hereford and Worcester along with Mark Garnier MP contacting the QE on Sophie's behalf to even just get a call-back and an appointment.
"Surgery finally took place on June 18th this year meaning Sophie can now move on with her life once she's recovered fully from her 5th brain surgery in six years.
"Sophie deserves the best, she's missed out on a big part of her life."
Ms Price has said she is "super happy" that surgery has been completed and has thanked the hospital.
Ms Price, who recently became engaged to partner Joshua Gunn, says she is now "looking forward to an amazing life ahead" with him.
She said: "I'm super happy and overjoyed I've finally had the procedure that enables me to try and live my life to the best of my ability.
"I have disabilities which I have to live with for the rest of my life.
"I have a brilliant support network with my mom and stepdad Lee who has fought for me, cared for me and have gotten me to where I am today by never giving up on me and pushing me and supporting me through some very sad and difficult times.
"I'm looking forward to my engagement party in October, and although no date for the wedding is set, I'm looking ahead to an amazing life with Josh and seeing what the future holds for us both.
"I thank the QE for the hard work and for finally getting me in for my surgery but I really wish it had been sooner so I could have progressed with recovery sooner".
A spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham said: “We are very pleased Sophie is happy with her surgery and that she is now able to confidently lead the life she should expect to be leading.
“We wish Sophie and her family every moment of joy possible after having gone through and overcome so much".
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