Edinburgh medics to drill 13 holes into schoolgirl's skull in 'last-chance operation'
A Scottish schoolgirl and daughter of an MMA fighter is preparing to have a 'last-chance operation' where 13 holes will be drilled into her skull.
Myla Ray, 10, lives with drug-resistant epilepsy and a rare brain malformation Cortical Dysplasia. She's been having severe seizures since she was just four years old, reports the Daily Record.
The daughter of MMA star Steven Ray, from Kirkcaldy, is set to have the operation on August 13. Medics will drill 13 electrodes into her skull at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Children and Young People.
Steven, who has secured support for Myla across the sport, described the youngster as a "the real fighter in the family."
He added: "She's only 10 years old and she's already went through way more than I have my whole life."
Myla has already survived intensive care, multiple operations, and being put in a coma, all before her 11th birthday. Doctors diagnosed Myla with frontal lobe epilepsy and later found a malformation in her brain called cortical dysplasia, a condition that began before birth.
She had part of her brain removed in May 2023, but the seizures returned. Doctors to hope stimulate her brain to trigger a seizure that reveals the exact area to remove.
Mum, Natalie said: "If we don't do it, the seizures will keep getting worse and it could kill her."
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"They told us the medication was no longer working. We were told if we don't go ahead with this next operation, there's a high probability of death as she's drug resistant."
In the upcoming operation, surgeons will insert rods into her brain. She will be monitored for a week in a bid to identify the exact seizure source. If no seizure happens naturally, her medication will be stopped, increasing the risk of a coma or even death.
Natalie added: "They've talked us through everything that could go wrong.
"She could have a heart attack, a stroke or they could hit a blood vessel, but at this point it's our only option."
(Image: Supplied)
Myla's condition has also taken a toll on her development and has left her with the brain capacity of a four-year-old. The youngster doesn't understand days, weeks or danger, and often uses a wheelchair when her mobility is affected.
Despite it all, Natalie appreciates the better days: "I'm so thankful for the days she's going about laughing."
Back in 2023, before Myla's first surgery, her parents turned to fundraising to pay for private care as NHS wait times grew too long. The campaign went viral, attracting donations from around the world - including a £1,000 contribution from Outlander star Sam Heughan and a staggering £10,000 from UFC president Dana White.
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Steven launched the GoFundMe alongside Natalie which smashed the initial £100,000 target, eventually reaching over £110,000.
Should the procedure be a success, Myla is likely to face more brain surgery potentially by the end of the year.
The family are staying strong even as they face terrifying possibilities. Natalie said: "We've been told the odds; it's basically 50/50 whether she'll be able to have another operation after this one."
"But at this point we will try anything."
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