Northwood violinist celebrates spinal recovery

She was placed on a waiting list for spinal fusion surgery - a procedure that carries a risk of paralysis, nerve damage and in some cases even death.

The music lover, of Davenham Avenue, was also told that she must stop playing the violin as the activity woul cause her spinal curvature to rapidly worsen.

Her mum, Sandra, said: "When Jasmine was told she needed to give up playing the violin I could see her heart breaking. But beyond this, my little girl was told she would need an operation, which carried more risks than open-heart surgery."

With Jasmine's pain increasing, her family sought a second opinion.

In July, they arranged for the youngster, a pupil at Hatch End High School, to have therapy at specialist clinic Scoliosis SOS, which aims to improve posture and straighten the spine through exercise as an alternative to surgery.

After four weeks, the family say her condition improved so much that she no longer needed the operation and was able to pick up her beloved violin again.

She said: "I am standing taller and straighter and feel much more confident. I feel like a normal teenage girl again - one that doesn't suffer from back pain and shortness of breath.

"I was so frightened when the consultant told me I needed surgery, the operation would have left me with a back full of metal work and lots of scarring."

Sandra added: "Spinal fusion surgery is a serious operation which would have restricted Jasmine for the rest of her life and there was no guarantee the procedure would even have been successful.

"I am overjoyed that she has been able to avoid such invasive treatment. I am just as delighted that Jasmine can continue playing the violin, she has true talent and I love listening to her play."