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Groundbreaking treatment

Macy’s in the swim

after life-changing op

t the start of June this year Macy they believed would allow Macy to live a
Handley was undergoing life- normal life. At that point, they had already
Achanging spinal surgery with her raised £50,000 but within weeks they had hit
West Midlands Police officer parents their initial target with West Midlands Police
anxiously waiting to hear if it has been a Federation helping promote the appeal.
success. West Midlands Police Benevolent Fund
Now, only five months later, the donated £5,000 and West Midlands Police
determined 12-year-old is doing so well that Federation has agreed to give the family
the swimming club she joined to help with £1,000 to help with the ongoing costs
her rehabilitation programme has signed her involved in terms of travelling to and from
up to take part in a swimming gala. London for consultations, hotel
“It’s just amazing,” says Mum Kerry, “Macy accommodation and so on.
has a personal trainer twice a week to help Kerry and Toby noticed in July 2019 that
build up her core strength following the Macy, who is also autistic, had a lump near
operation and started swimming as a way of her spine.
improving her fitness too. Initially she was An x-ray uncovered abnormal curves in
swimming at the University of Warwick but her spine as well as a rotation. Not long after,
after being talent spotted Macy was selected she was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis.
to try out for Coventry Swimming Club of She was given a brace to wear 20 hours a day.
which she is now a member. She’s doing so It was uncomfortable, restrictive and rubbed
well at competitive swimming that she’ll be on her neck, impacting on her mental health.
competing in her first gala in November. Initially, an x-ray showed the brace was
“It’s incredible when you think that when working but further scans revealed the curve
she went into hospital for the operation we Macy Handley. has increased and so spinal fusion was
didn’t really know how successful it would “Without the surgery, Macy could have considered.
be. ended up having a fusion op and that would VBT, in essence, provides an internal brace
“But the consultant is very pleased with have left her with far less dramatic benefits. and was an alternative favoured by the couple
her and is confident that once she has Watching her at the swimming pool the since the recovery is much quicker than
stopped growing, which will be in around other day, I looked up to see her on the diving fusion, there is better range of movement
three or four years, she will be left with about board and then curling over for the start afterwards and scarring is less prominent.
a five per cent curvature of her spine, which is position. That would not have been possible if Having launched the fund-raising appeal
less than some people who do not have she had undergone the fusion procedure. with a firm focus on raising enough money
Macy’s condition.” “Last week we took Macy and our other for the treatment, Kerry, who works in the
It could have all been very different, two children to Devon and she was able to early resolution team at Coventry, said the
however, had it not been for the support of paddleboard with her younger brother and build-up to the surgery had a massive mental
those who responded to a fundraising appeal sister. It was fantastic to see her enjoying impact on the whole family.
launched by Kerry and husband Toby earlier things that other children do. She is now just The operation was carried out at St
this year. like any other girl of her age and, now that George’s Hospital in London on 8 June and
Without the fundraising, the Vertebral she is not wearing a back brace, is also Macy has since returned for an x-ray which
Body Tethering (VBT) operation would have starting to take an interest in fashion, revealed that it had all been a success.
been delayed and that could have meant it something that always made her quite Macy herself has coped incredibly well
was too late for Macy to be suitable for the anxious before. with everything she has been through and
pioneering treatment since there is a limited “This operation has changed her life and I she has now become a mentor to other
window of opportunity. cannot thank enough everyone who made it children as they approach the VBT surgery,
“I cannot thank the people who helped us possible.” offering them advice, support and
enough,” says Kerry, “Everyone was so kind, At the end of March, Kerry and Toby encouragement.
and so generous with people who we didn’t issued an appeal to help them raise the As well as her personal training sessions
even know giving money to the appeal. £90,000 they needed for the operation which and her swimming, Macy is also having
“ body and mind relax. But she says the
weekly aromatherapy massage to help her
This operation has changed her life and I
swimming is also boosting her mental health.
cannot thank enough everyone who made it
“Macy really enjoys it. She explained it to

me that when she is under water, it’s quiet
possible.
and she feels free,” says Kerry.
www.polfed.org/westmids federation December 2021/January 2022 25
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