HARVEY'S HOME AND HE'S 4CM TALLER..

Surgery is a success for boy who got vital spine op after plea to Sturgeon

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

A BOY who pleaded with then first Nicola minister Sturgeon to help him get a vital operation is home after surgery and is nearly 4cm taller.

Harvey Martin was languishing on a waiting list for surgery to straighten his spine, which was crushing his organs and causing excruciating pain.

But the day after the Daily Record carried the story of the nine-year-old's video appeal, Sturgeon assured Harvey a date for his operation was on the way.

By the time he was operated on, his fourth and fifth ribs were 2mm from touching his spinal cord, which would have led to paralysis.

He had surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children in Edinburgh last Friday.