Last updated at 16:38, Sunday, 02 September 2012

A STUDENT who defied expectations in his GCSEs despite having major chest surgery is looking forward to resuming a “normal life” when he starts college this week.

Dale Keel’s headteacher singled him out for special praise when he received his GCSE results last week, following a traumatic two-and-half years for the Millom teenager and his family.

The 17-year-old has the hereditary condition pectus excavatum.

Though not a problem for many people who live with it, including his dad Garry, the condition has proven extremely painful for Dale.

It caused his abdomen to stick to his spine, his ribs to vent and left a hole in his chest and pushed his heart to one side.

Dale has been operated on three times since November 2010 and missed several months of his crucial last years at John Ruskin School in Coniston.

He had to go through Year 10 twice, due to the amount of classroom time he missed, and did four-day school weeks when he could attend.

Following a successful third operation in July, Dale expects to be given the all-clear on September 25 and cannot wait to lead a healthy, active life when he starts Barrow Sixth Form College this week.

Mum Lorraine Keel, of Market Street, Millom, said: “He’s not been able to play sports, or go on his bike, or many things a normal teenage boy can do.

“He loves football but couldn’t play, he loves biking, but couldn’t go biking. He hasn’t been able to do most sports actually, particularly contact sports.

“But he can do these now.

“At last now he can join, and settle into his work and get his life back. He feels great.”

Dale has spent a lot of time between Furness General Hospital and Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

His first operation in November 2010 failed, as his chest sunk back in despite the attempt to reconstruct it.

He was operated on again in November last year when a piece of pig bone and a metal bar were inserted in his chest.

The procedure worked, but Dale spent another three weeks in hospital with an infection and the bar eventually moved slightly, meaning it had to be removed in July.

That procedure involved his sternum having to be broken again.

Dale is still in his three-month recovery period, but his mum says it is unlikely he will require any further surgery.

First published at 13:11, Sunday, 02 September 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk