A GIRL who missed several months of school to have surgery on her back has managed to book herself a place in college.

Leonie Saffy, from Ruabon suffered from a curved spine that required intensive surgery to correct.

In an operation undertaken on November 2016 at Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool, Leonie received a full spinal fusion, which involved inserting 20 titanium screws and two titanium rods into her spine.

The operation typically takes six months to recover from, but owing to her determination to not fall behind, Leonie was back to school in just three months.

On results day itself Leonie received two As and eight Bs.

Leonie's mum Zara is ver impressed with her daughter's achievements. "We didn't sleep much last night!" said Zara speaking about results day.

"She was determined to get back to school as soon as possible. Before the operation she competed for Wales and Great Britain in dressage events so needed 12 months off for that.

"She also took part in boxing before and after the operation to keep up her fitness.

"It was difficult for her at school as she wasn't allowed into classes in case she knocked or banged her spine. She wants to study biology, chemistry and English for her A-levels but a lot of those required practical tasks which meant she had to do the practicals on her own, which is obviously quite difficult.

"But she worked hard with her after school classes and extra curricular activities and will now be going to Coleg Cambria for her A-levels."