Brave girl is back at school after surgery

Brave Summer Wrigley, eight, returned to Staining Primary School this week after surgeons at Manchester Children’s Hospital successfully removed 95 per cent of the brain tumours, which were discovered after a routine eye exam in January.

The year four pupil, who lives in Staining, underwent surgery in April.

After a period of recovery at home, she is now getting back to her old routine, including catching up with friends at her dance classes.

Her mum Amie Barnes. 29, said: “She got out one month ago, though she may need further therapy when her stitches are all out.

“They got rid of most of it and she’s had a couple of scans and luckily it’s not grown back.

“She’s excited as she’s getting back on her feet and getting her independence back.”

Amie, who works as a midwife at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, said she is hopeful the worst of their ordeal is behind them.

She added: “I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to get time off work to spend time with her and give her 24-hour care.

“She’s not stopped smiling. She’s just happy to get out of the hospital after a month.

“She was lucky because when there are two tumours it’s usually quite an aggressive type of cancer and she would have to have chemotherapy, but it was just a grade one.

“They have got rid of all the tumours as much as they can so hopefully that’s the end of it.”

Summer, who is a keen dancer, has also resumed her regular ballet, modern and tap dance classes at Langleys Dance Centre on Coronation Street.

She said: “I’m feeling good. I have had the brain surgery – it was fine though it was a bit scary.

“I’m feeling healthy now. I get to see my friends and my teacher.

“My favourite subject is literacy.”

Sarah Cairns, dance teacher at Langley Dance Centre, said: “Summer came for her first class on Monday and all her little friends were absolutely thrilled to bits to see her.

“The improvement she has made in such a short amount of time is a miracle.

“She has been coming here since she was three-and-a-half years old. Her face lit up when she saw all her friends.

“She’s a very determined little girl.”