BRAVE Nicole Chorley returned home from her life-changing operation in America this week and now she can’t wait to play with all her friends.

The six-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer, of Hebden Road, Westwood, had pioneering surgery on her spine, hamstrings and tendons at St Louis Childrens Hospital, Missouri. The operations were funded by generous Wiltshire Times readers who raised £60,000.

For the first time in her life she can now stand up, with the aid of a walker.

Mum Tracey, 46, said: “All Nicole’s friends have been in touch wishing her well, keeping updated with our blog and Nicole really loved getting the chance to chat to a few of them via webcam when we were in America. She is very, very excited to see her friends again and she’s also looking forward to playing with some of her toys, as it was her birthday on July 12 and we flew away on July 15, so she’s not really had chance to play with them in her room yet.”

Mrs Chorley said Nicole and all the family members who went to America, including dad Paul, 40, and sister Amie, 16, were really looking forward to having a roast dinner.

The family arrived home on Tuesday. She said: “It is great to be back, it’s been such an emotional journey over the last few weeks.

“There have been a few ups and downs. For example the first five days after Nicole’s first operation were horrendous, I did think we’d made a mistake putting her through it, but to see her improving now has proved it was all worth it.

“It’s amazing to see the noticeable improvement in Nicole and she was kicking a ball for the first time the other day, it was just wonderful to see. Her feet are very sensitive at the minute though, following last week’s operation.”

Now that Nicole is home she’ll need regular physiotherapy to help with her recovery and build up her muscle strength, which should allow her to walk unassisted in about a year.

On Wednesday she went for physio treatment at Bath’s Royal United Hospital, which she’ll be attending twice a week until September.

Nicole will also be receiving physio at home from Mrs Chorley and Trowbridge physiotherapist Steve Johnson, who offered to help after reading her story.

Mrs Chorley said: “We just want to get settled in for a day or two and then we’ll start to think about this next step in Nicole’s life.”