THE parents of a young girl who was left brain-damaged following an operation have launched a fundraising appeal to improve their daughter’s life.

Somer Woodley-Dale’s heart stopped for 20 minutes following a nine-hour operation at Southampton General Hospital on September 4, to replace the rods in her spine.

Although the operation was a success, the 12-year-old went into cardiac arrest shortly after.

Surgeons battled to re-start her heart, and although she miraculously pulled through, Somer was left brain-damaged, paralysed on the left-hand side of her body, and unable to talk.

Her devastated parents, Paul Dale, 42, from Pamber Heath, and Emma Woodley, 31, from Beggarwood, Basingstoke, have now launched a fundraising drive to buy a wheelchair and to pay for rehabilitation in an attempt to improve their daughter’s quality of life.

Somer was diagnosed with Noonans syndrome shortly after she was born at 36 weeks – a genetic condition which affects sufferers in different ways, and which, for Somer, resulted in a heart condition, learning difficulties and short stature.

By the age of four, she had already undergone two major heart operations and in 2009, aged eight, she became one of the youngest-ever patients to have metal rods put in her back to correct her bent spine.

Despite her health problems, Somer was extremely active and loved horse riding and going fishing with her father.

Paul said: “She has been through a lot but she was the friendliest child you would ever meet. She would chat away to everyone.”

With the help of family and friends, Emma and Paul have organised a fundraising event on Sunday at Skewers Tavern, in Windrush Close, Eastrop, Basing-stoke, to raise funds to pay for extra rehabilitation, physiotherapy and a specially adapted wheelchair for Somer.

Paul said: “There will be men having their chests waxed, an auction and a raffle.

“We don’t have a target of how much we want to raise as we don’t know how much everything will cost, but the more we can raise, the better things will be for Somer.”

Somer will be in Southampton hospital for at least another month before she can return home to live with her mother.

To donate, visit sites.google .com/site/somergetwellsoon/ and click on fundraising.