BRAVE Ruby Atkins has received a life-changing operation after a county-wide fundraising campaign.

The Rogiet four-year-old was born prematurely at 30 weeks and diagnosed with bilateral cerebral palsy, meaning her ability to walk unaided was restricted.

Ruby was in need of a treatment known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) to reduce spasticity in her legs and enable her to walk unaided.

After months of fundraising from family, friends and the community, £40,000 was raised for Ruby to receive her dream operation.

Ruby went in for her long-awaited procedure on Monday 7th September at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. The operation involved entering the spinal cord via a vertebrae and cutting the portion that carries messages from the brain to the legs.

In spite of the challenging operation, Ruby has impressed surgeons with how well she’s recovering.

Ruby, who always wears a smile on her face, has started an intense programme of physiotherapy and exercise and is said to be doing very well.

Antony Atkins, Ruby’s Dad, said: “She’s been absolutely brilliant and has just got on and knuckled down with everything.

“That said, with the amount of attention she’s having from all the staff, friends and family visiting and all the cards and presents I don’t think she’s going to want to come home!

“We expect her to be discharged on the 24th September and plan for her to start going back to school for a few hours each day the week after.

“She’ll also continue with physiotherapy four times a week for the next few months, and she can start back with her swimming and horse riding in about six weeks time.”