SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Chase Vaughan has taken her first steps after undergoing pioneering surgery to prevent her from relying on a wheelchair in the future.

Surgeons successfully carried out a radical procedure on Chase, from Monmouth, who suffers from a debilitating nerve-muscle condition known as spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.

The condition meant she walked on her toes, had stiffness in her legs and poor balance and co-ordination.

Chase, who attends Osbaston Church in Wales Primary, was born 15 weeks early – weighing just 1lb 8oz and has had to wear splints and have regular physiotherapy.

Mum, Helen Morgan, aged 30, of Cornwallis Way, raised £40,000 in eight months to fund the procedure which is not available on the NHS.

The procedure, known as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) uses a technique developed in St Louis, USA, and involves making an incision in the spine to divide nerve roots that contribute to the spasticity.

It will help avoid further muscle deterioration and stiffness and was performed at Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital on June 17.

Miss Morgan, a self-employed accountant, said Chase is making good progress.

“The operation took just over four hours. Chase was placed in a high dependency unit after contracting a chest infection, but returned to the children’s ward after two days and was allowed home within a fortnight,” she revealed.

Chase was due to have a further operation, to lengthen the muscles in her legs, which was cancelled because she hadn’t fully recovered from the infection.

Miss Morgan is now hopeful it will go ahead in the coming weeks.

She added: “A few days ago, Chase walked across the living room on her own for the first time since her operation which was fantastic.”

“I am amazed and proud of Chase who is very determined to walk and has done brilliantly.”

Her rehabilitation is expected to take up to three years.