Scots schoolgirl dubbed 'Kid Courage' by sporting hero after five-hour spine surgery

Leah McMillan, 12, met four of her heroes from the Glasgow Clan ice hockey team.

A schoolgirl has been dubbed Kid Courage by one of her sporting heroes after enduring five hours of surgery on her spine.

Leah MacMillan’s recovery was given a huge boost when four Glasgow Clan ice hockey stars paid a surprise visit to her home.

Leah, 12, had been diagnosed with scoliosis – curvature of the spine – and needed urgent surg-ery at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.

The five-hour op involved attaching two steel rods down each side of her spine to straighten it.

When she got back home to East Kilbride, her mum and dad, Douglas and Lisa, contacted the Clan asking if they could send a message of support. But they went a whole lot further and Clan stars Landon Bow, Mike Pelech, Rob Lachowicz and Mitchell Heard turned up at Leah’s door.

Rob said: “Leah sure is one tough cookie the way she has dealt with everything she has had to put up with. It was quite inspirational meeting Leah and she’s definitely a Kid Courage as far as I’m concerned.”

Douglas said: “Thankfully, the operation has been a success and it means Leah can have a good life as she grows up into adulthood.

“She’s now two-and-a-half inches taller after the surgery straightened her spine and she just loves that.”

Leah said: “It was amazing meeting the players and having a few things signed.

“I’ve been going to watch the Clan for six years. I can’t wait to get back to Braehead again to cheer on the Clan.”

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