Whitburn girl beats bullies and is all smiles again

Nov 19 2009 by Debbie Hall, West Lothian Courier

A YOUNG girl taunted by cruel bullies who forced her to cut herself so she would be accepted into their gang is finally looking forward to a new life.

Kayleigh Wilson (18), from Whitburn, suffered brain damage when she was just two when a bookcase fell on top of her, smashing her skull into tiny bone fragments.

The fragments became lodged in her brain and she needed life saving surgery to remove them.

She was in a coma for three weeks, during which time she also contracted meningitis and was left with profound front global brain damage.

And yet despite surviving this terrible experience, Kayleigh became the target of heartless bullies who taunted her every day.

They called her names and even handed her a piece of glass one day and told her if she cut herself, they would be her friend.

The fragile teenager did as she was told and was rushed to hospital for treatment to cuts on her face, neck and wrists.

And Kayleigh hated her appearance so much that she also became anorexic.

To help Kayleigh feel better about her appearance, her mum decided to book an appointment with local orthodontist Raja Mahesh, who runs M-Brace Orthodontics at the Bathgate Dental Health Spa.

And three years later, Kayleigh’s smile has been transformed and she has been given a new lease of life.

Kayleigh said of her experiences at school: “I have no memories that are not a dark place inside my head.

“I hated myself so I hid myself away, I couldn’t go out, everybody would see how ugly I was.

“When my mum told me about the orthodontist appointment, I didn’t want to go, I didn’t know what he wanted.”

Kayleigh said that although her treatment could often be painful and wearing braces was uncomfortable, it was all worth it.

She continued: “I’m perfect now, I’m Kayleigh, the girl who was lost, I’m the girl I dreamed about, I’m not ugly anymore.”

Mr Mahesh said: “I still remember the day her braces came off and I gave her a mirror, she was speechless and so happy.”