A FAMILY has thanked kind-hearted members of the public ahead of a trip to America for potentially life-changing surgery.

Macy Robertson, along with her mum and dad, Nicky and Mark, will fly out from Edinburgh to Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday.

The 10-year-old was diagnosed with scoliosis – an abnormal twisting and curvature of the spine – four years ago and is heading to the US for vital surgery.

Residents throughout the county and beyond have raised more than £91,000 for the family, who are looking to gather £150,000 for the trip.

Nicky told the Courier: “People deal with things differently but this is a situation not many people find themselves in.

“It has been stressful and not ideal having to raise money in this manner.

“It would have been much easier if we had savings and paid for it ourselves.

“We are trying to take as many positives from the experience as possible.

“It has made me feel much more part of the community than perhaps I did before.

“I have gained a number of new friends through this experience and I think as well that the support we have had has been incredible, particularly from the community of Dunbar.”

Further fundraisers are being held to eat into the remaining £60,000, with three events in the next few weeks.

A pop-up shop will open its doors on Dunbar High Street tomorrow (Saturday) selling good-quality clothes, books, toys, CDs and much more from 10am to 5pm.

Then next Friday (February 3), a trio of bands will take to the stage at Haddington’s Corn Exchange.

Traveller will be joined by The Last Resort and The Bushells between 7pm and 11pm, with tickets costing £10.

A raffle and bingo are also planned for the event, which is BYOB, with tickets available on 07510 289751 or 07875 526635.

Finally, on February 25, the Strawberry Barn is hosting a talent show for youngsters.

Knockout rounds will take place from 2pm to 6pm, with a winner crowned later that night.

Nicky also took time to praise the success of a ceilidh, organised by the Dunbar Music School, at the Strawberry Barn on Friday.

She said: “It is impossible to put it into words.

“Every week, something happens that makes me feel completely overwhelmed.

“There is a man doing a half marathon every day in January, for example, and I came home the other day to find two huge parcels.

“It was from a lady from the west coast and she had beautifully made 150 greetings cards and put them in two huge boxes with a card for my son Louie, with a £5 note for him to go buy a treat.

“Everyday something happens to make me feel really touched and overwhelmed – the community has been really amazing.”

Previously, Macy, who is in P6 at Dunbar Primary School, wore a brace 20 hours a day to prevent her condition from becoming worse.

However, the youngster struggled with the brace, which she only took off when swimming or at gym lessons at school.

Now, the family will fly to New Jersey, where she will undergo X-rays before heading on to the Institute for Spine and Scoliosis, where they will carry out a procedure called vertebral body tethering (VBT).

The operation, which is due to take place next Thursday (February 2), will see screws attached to the affected vertebrae and then to a flexible cord to pull the spine into a straighter position. She is due home on February 24.

Nicky, a senior housing strategy officer with East Lothian Council, said it had been a stressful time for the family.

She said: “If Macy is in pain she will say she cannot wait that long and wants the operation now but other times she is quite nervous and scared.

“It is hard on her emotionally.

“She is not sleeping well and she is frightened to what extent it is going to hurt and how big her scar will be – all things a 10-year-old should not have to worry about.”

To support Macy, go to www.gofundme.com/fund-spine-surgery-for-macy or to find out more about the various fundraisers go to www.facebook.com/LifeChangingOpMacy