One-year-old Louie Allen with dad Jay and mum Kerrie Brush. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0902961. 0902953/4)

YEAR-OLD Louie Allen is making a speedy recovery following specialist skull surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

It was second time lucky for the Vale baby, who had been diagnosed with metopic synostosis, commonly known as craniosynostosis, where the skull fuses together too early.

Louie had been initially booked into the specialist hospital for corrective surgery late last year.

Family and friends had raised money to cover the cost of the trip over but while in London he contracted an ear infection and the procedure had to be cancelled.

This year, heavy snow, both here and in the capital, again threatened the operation, rescheduled for 6 January.

‘We got there OK but because the weather was so bad around London, they didn’t think they would have enough anaesthetists to do the operation,’ said Mr Allen. ‘Luckily it went ahead, but it was a real worry.’

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