A few weeks before Gladys’s 11th birthday, the doctors diagnosed her with scoliosis. Scoliosis is a condition in which the spine curves to one side and is more commonly found in females than in males. For Gladys, her curvature was at 62 degrees, within the severe range. To correct the condition, Gladys needed to go for Scoliosis Surgery.

On 13th June 2018, Gladys went under the knife. Going through a major surgery was not an easy feat for a 11 years old, and the road to recovery was filled with challenges. Experiencing constant sharp pains on her back throughout the recovery, the discomfort was agonizing.

She had to learn how to sit, stand and walk, something that seemed so easy in the past but it all became an uphill task. “Will I ever dance again? Will I lose my flexibility?” These thoughts kept replaying in her mind since her diagnosis. With the immense pain she was going through daily; she wanted to give up, “Of all people, why me? What have I done to deserve this?” But she really wanted to dance, to be back in the studios again⁣⁣⁣⁣ Being a determined child by nature, Gladys bested her negativity – she found her strength, her motivation to recover. While recovering, she sat in the studios weekly to watch her ballet friends dance. Coupled with the unwavering support from her family & friends, these were her sources of joy and affirmation.

5th June 2019, almost a year later, Gladys surged back on stage for her first competition post-surgery, winning 3rd & 5th position for both her ballet solos. A month later, she snagged home a Silver Medal from Hong Kong. Throughout the road to recovery, it was her determination & willpower that led her to overcome the challenges she faced upon returning to ballet classes. More importantly, her passion for dance went against all odds to bring her back to where she belonged – The Stage

Le Grand is very proud of how far you have come little warrior!