Britain’s Got Talent star Julia Carlile has revealed she’s dancing again after having life-changing surgery on her back.
The 15-year-old flew to America over the summer for two operations after BGT boss Simon Cowell paid £80,000 of his own money to fund the spinal surgeries to correct her scoliosis.
And now, the teen is getting ready to return to the stage with her dance troupe, MerseyGirls, at a charity event featuring a slew of BGT legends.
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In her first TV interview since returning home, Julia told ITV News: “I had one surgery on the 24th of July and then I had my second on the 4th of August in America.”
She added: “It was really hard at first but I’m starting to do a few dances, which is good.”
Julia’s got a goal in sight, as well: performing at Britain’s Got Talent: The Big Celebration at Liverpool’s Empire Theatre on February 11.
“People will see me dance again for the first time after my surgery,” she said.
“I’m so excited as I’ve missed dancing with MerseyGirls so much.”
It’s an incredible achievement for Julia, who once feared her scoliosis would leave her unable to ever dance again.
The shows feature fellow BGT stars including Susan Boyle, Paul Potts, Collabro, Attraction and Tokio Myers.
All proceeds will go to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, which Julia said supported her from the age of six.
Julia told the Liverpool Echo: “I benefited so much from Simon’s kindness and now I want to do the same for Alder Hey, who have treated me for scoliosis since I was very young.
“They’ve stood by me and now I want to do what I can for them.”
When Julia and MerseyGirls auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent, she won viewers’ hearts by revealing her scoliosis diagnosis and saying she was facing surgery that would leave her unable to dance again.
Simon was visibly shocked – and later stepped in to fund a different procedure, only available in America.
Julia later told This Morning: “Thank you so, so, so much, Simon. Honestly, there are no words to even thank him because what he’s done is just the best thing ever.”
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She had to undergo two six-hour surgeries in the space of 11 days.
“It has been really hard, probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” she after the ops. “But yesterday was a breakthrough, I just decided I’m going to get better now, because I just want to dance.”
Glad you’re on the mend, Julia.