
Love Island star Gabby Allen reveals her fears of 'never being able to dance again' after she was diagnosed with scoliosis
Gabby Allen opened up on This Morning about her fears of 'never being able to dance again' after she was diagnosed with scoliosis.
Thursday's instalment of the ITV programme saw co-hosts Craig Doyle and Rochelle Humes sit down with the Love Island star.
Gabby spoke candidly about her scoliosis diagnosis and the concerns she had at just 11 years old.
She revealed how during a family holiday, she was diving with her father and her parents noticed she seemed 'wonky'.
Things then moved quickly and she shared, 'within a few months I was on the operating table'.
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Gabby admitted her biggest fear at the time was over whether she would be able to dance.
'I think as a young girl, the scariest thing for me was that I was that I was never going to dance again,' she explained.
'I was like 'It doesn't matter about walking, I need to be able to dance' because that's what I wanted to do.'
Before Gabby's operation her parents didn't tell her 'much information' about the risks because they 'didn't want to scare' her.
She was on the operating table for 10 hours and her entire spine was fused 'from top to bottom'.
The reality star revealed she had to learn how to walk again but within just a few months she was back to dancing.
'But within six months I was dancing, I won ballet competitions like nine months later so I think that's what built my resilience to be where I am now with strength training,' she said.
Gabby's candid discussion about her scoliosis diagnosis comes just weeks after it was revealed she had split with Casey O'Gorman.
The couple, who won the £50,000 cash prize during the final of the ITV show Love Island: All Stars in February, decided they are better off as friends.
In a joint statement, the couple's reps told MailOnline: 'After much thoughtful consideration, Gabby and Casey have decided to go their separate ways romantically.
'This decision was mutual, and they both remain on good terms as friends with a shared respect for each other.'
In an add-on statement, Gabby's rep said: 'Gabby is grateful for the memories they've created together and wishes Casey nothing but the best as they both move forward on their individual journeys. She's excited for what the future holds and appreciates.'
What is scoliosis?
Scoliosis is the abnormal curvature of the spine in an S-shape.
Signs include a visible curve in the spine, one shoulder or hip being more prominent than the other, clothes not hanging properly and back pain.
Pain usually only affects adults with the condition.
In most cases, the cause of the scoliosis is not known but it can be caused by cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy.
In the UK, scoliosis affects three to four children could of every 1,000.
It is also thought that as many as 70 per cent of over 65s have some degree of scoliosis.
It is more common in women than in men.
Most children with the condition do not require treatment as it is mild and corrects itself as the child grows.
However, in severe cases the child may need to wear a back brace until they stop growing.
Occasionally, a child needs surgery to straighten their spine.
In adults, it is usually too late to treat the condition with a back brace or surgery so treatment revolves around reducing pain.
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