UPDATE: A 7-year-old girl is facing a critical surgery after suffering a severe spinal injury at a soft play center. Lillie Russell developed a condition known as ‘accident induced scoliosis’ following an alarming incident where another child collided with her at the bottom of a slide. This devastating accident has left her needing a major spinal operation to insert metal rods, which cannot take place until she grows larger.
The incident occurred when Lillie was just four years old, leading to a shocking diagnosis that revealed her spine had bent at an alarming 70 degrees. After undergoing three failed procedures under general anaesthetic, Lillie now wears a back brace for 22 hours a day. Her mother, Amelia Russell, 34, from Earls Barton in Northamptonshire, expressed the family’s anguish: “You don’t expect your children to come back from soft play with such a severe injury.”
The family received a distressing call that Lillie might have broken her back, despite her not showing any pain at the time. “I looked at her back and thought, ‘what on earth has happened?’” Amelia recounted. Following the initial diagnosis in the summer of 2023, Lillie underwent three spine-stretching procedures, each spaced three months apart, but her condition continued to deteriorate.
Amelia and her husband, Dan Russell, 44, who manage a successful roofing business, have faced immense challenges balancing their family life with Lillie’s health issues. Despite the stress, they managed to take a family trip to Turkey last year, thanks to Staysure, a unique insurance provider that agreed to cover their complex needs. “It was an incredibly stressful time, and we didn’t have a holiday for a year,” Amelia shared.
As Lillie continues her medical journey, her parents are committed to raising awareness about scoliosis. They’ve launched an Instagram account, @lillielivingwithscoliosis, to inspire other families dealing with similar challenges. “To watch your daughter noticing that she stands differently to her friends is heartbreaking,” Amelia said.
Sophie Davis from Staysure added, “Lillie is a real inspiration. She has faced many challenges and is determined to help support other children living with scoliosis.” The family is now preparing for Lillie’s next steps, including a trip to Abu Dhabi in January, as they await her to reach the appropriate weight for her next surgery.
This case highlights the urgent need for awareness regarding children’s safety in play environments and the potential long-term consequences of injuries that may initially seem minor. The Russell family’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience of children facing health challenges and the critical support families need during such trying times.
