A LITTLE girl is back at school on crutches after undergoing life-changing spinal surgery in America over the summer to help her walk.

Six-year-old Emma Clark, who spent the whole of August recuperating and having physical therapy at St Louis Children’s Hospital, in St Louis, Missouri, is now back home in Kingsclere with her family.

She returned to Aldermaston Primary School using just tripod crutches for support on September 6, having missed just two days of school.

Her proud mum Angela said: “Emma is a complete superstar. She was brave leading up to the operation, and recovered quickly and with no complications afterwards. We are so very proud of her, and so very relieved that everything has turned out in her favour. The progress she is making week after week is absolutely astounding.”

Emma was born with mild cerebral palsy as a result of complications during her mum’s pregnancy.

Her condition caused her feet to rotate inwards and she has not been able to walk without the help of a walking frame.

On August 9, in Missouri, she underwent a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) operation, which is not available in Britain, to terminate incorrect feedback from the brain to the muscles.

Mrs Clark said: “During the operation, we wanted to all be as close to Emma as we could, so we waited in a specially-dedicated family waiting room for about five-and-a-half hours. That was a tough one on all of us, but we didn't want to leave.”

The £30,000 operation was paid for by many generous local donors and fundraising events.

The family – including her twin Michelle, dad Scott and three-year-old sister Rebecca – stayed in an apartment nearby, where Emma joined them five days after surgery.

She also had a hamstring-lengthening operation, on recommendation by surgeons, which had an immediate effect. The day after surgery she was already able to walk straighter without dragging her feet while on a treadmill.

The Clarks were told by the neurosurgeon in Missouri that Emma will be walking without crutches within a year, but her family believe she will achieve this sooner.

Mrs Clark said: “She can already walk down the hallway of our house by just holding onto the wall. She just needs to gain more strength and confidence and balance to make it all really happen. We are so grateful for all the support we have had to make this possible for Emma.”