BORN TO RUN

Spine op in womb helps Piper, 5, on her feet against all odds

- ADAM ASPINALL

A LITTLE girl whose parents were told she would never walk is now running around, after having spinal surgery while still in the womb.

Georgia Axford and Tyler Kelly, then aged 19 and 21, were told their unborn baby had spina bifida after the 20-week scan. The condition causes weakness or paralysis in the lower limbs and the parents were told it was likely their child would not walk.

The couple decided to travel to Germany for treatment, which meant their unborn baby was operated on in the womb at a cost of £9,000.

Piper-Kohl Kelly was then born healthy in July 2018 and named after surgeon Dr Thomas Kohl. Now five, she can walk and run, and has even taken part in her school's sports day.

Mum Georgia, now 24, said: "Seeing her run on the tracks was amazing. I never thought she'd be able to do something like that. Sometimes it doesn't feel real. I think back to what we were told, and they were really negative about Piper's diagnosis.