The mother of a young child with scoliosis has said it “feels quite surreal” that he has been given a surgery date after 33 long months on a waiting list. 

Gillian Sherratt's son, Harvey, has scoliosis and needs surgery to correct the condition. 

His spine now has a 110-degree curve and at times he struggles to breathe.

So things have gone from bad to worse recently for Harvey unfortunately.
While we have been campaigning, while we have all been sharing his story, while we have been watching footage of Harvey struggling to breathe, while we have been watching him screaming in pain, @CHI_Ireland… pic.twitter.com/BFtBAL2b5N

— Gillian Sherratt (@GillSherratt23) September 14, 2024

On Lunchtime Live, Harvey’s mother, Gillian Sherratt, said her son has now been booked into surgery this Friday. 

“I don’t think I can quite wrap my head around it that it’s actually due to finally happen after so long,” she said. 

“It feels quite surreal and I don’t think I’ll really believe it until he’s down in theatre getting it done.” 

Ms Sherratt said the surgery has been arranged after she managed to secure an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon. 

“We went through a private clinic,” she said. 

“When he saw Harvey, he put Harvey onto his own surgical list and it’s him now that’s going to be doing the surgery on Friday.” 

An ICU bed

Even now though, Ms Sherratt said the surgery is not guaranteed to happen. 

“It is one of those cases where, if there’s no ICU beds, they can’t do it because they need to have that as a precaution for him,” she said. 

“Pending an ICU bed, he should have his surgery done by Friday.” 

The surgery will see a growing rod inserted into Harvey - which the surgeon hopes will straighten up his body. 

“It’s not the traditional growing rods that they’d normally have,” Ms Sherratt said. 

“His will not be on his spine, they’ll be off to the side of the spine.

“That should hold him straight and allow growth as he gets a bit bigger as well.

“It’s a less invasive one than was originally the plan but his surgeon just felt that, given the severity of Harvey’s scoliosis, this was the safest option for him.”

'He should be in a lot less pain'

After 33 long months on a waiting list, Ms Sherratt hopes the surgery will be a turning point in her young son’s health. 

“His right lung hasn’t been allowed to grow properly,” she said. 

“That won’t miraculously grow but it will take the pressure off his lungs to allow him to breathe easier.

“He should be in a lot less pain once he’s healed - even sitting upright in his wheelchair is really hard for him.”

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Main image shows: Harvey Morrison. Image: Stephen Morrison