Her parents could only dream that their daughter would not need to use a wheelchair in the future.

Just five weeks after Jade Mitchell had two operations, mum and dad Pauline and Robbie told Stef Lach that they can now start believing she will be able to run, walk and dance.

Jade’s battle with cerebral palsy meant she struggled to walk unaided and feared missing out on the active life most eight-year-olds take for granted.

Her parents believed the only hope for their daughter was at a top American hospital in Missouri.

And the energetic East Kilbride youngster was able to travel to the world-renowned St Louis Children’s Hospital thanks to the generosity of Evening Times readers who helped raise the £40,000 needed to pay for the surgery.

In fact, more than £66,000 was raised and Jade underwent surgery on her spine to repair nerves and an additional second operation to increase the length of her heel cords, which had not grown properly due to lack of use.

The hospital has a 100% success rate for the revolutionary surgery, carried out by paediatric neurosurgeon Dr TS Park, and the signs are that Jade will be another in the long line of success stories.

Jade has a form of cerebral palsy which limited her mobility and would probably have meant that her future would be spent mostly in a wheelchair.

But Dr Park and his team are confident she will soon be walking comfortably without aid.

Her proud mum said: “We are home and Jade is doing exceptionally well. We’re still a bit tired but things are looking great.

“Jade only had the second operation a little over a week ago, so she’s still recovering and is using splints for the moment.

“But a week after the first surgery, on her spine, she was up and walking – it was an amazing recovery.”

During their stay in Missouri, Jade and Pauline visited the hospital almost every day.

Jade was kept in for five days after the operation on her spine and then returned for physiotherapy and check-ups.

Just days before returning to Scotland, she had the second operation to repair her heel cords and was out of the operating theatre in just over an hour.

In between the operations, the adventurous girl dragged her mum from the shopping centre to the cinema and then to the zoo as she made the most of her time in America.

Pauline said: “We did get some time to ourselves and Jade was her usual lively self.

“She’s already looking forward to going back next year for a follow-up visit.

“Considering she was there for five weeks and went through two major operations, she was very upbeat and actually enjoyed being there.

“It helps that the hospital was an incredible place with world-class staff.

“They kept me informed all the way through and I actually hardly had to ask any questions because they answered everything before I could open my mouth.

“Someone was available to speak to me 24 hours a day if need be, and I could not have asked for better care for Jade.

“It was worth every penny and I can’t express how grateful we are to everyone who helped raise the money.”

Although she enjoyed the delights of America, Jade was desperately missing her younger sister Erin and brother Anthony.

She was thrilled when her dad and Erin arrived for a surprise visit after her first operation.

Pauline said: “It was a lovely surprise for Jade and she enjoyed taking Erin to the zoo and to do some shopping.

“She was doing her best to walk as much as she could and we were all amazed at how hard she pushed herself.”