Julia Carlile, who was Alesha Dixon's golden buzzer act from this year's Britain's Got Talent, has revealed her recent operation, paid for by Simon Cowell, was successful.
The 15-year-old pulled on the heartstrings of the music mogul and BGT boss when she explained her dancing career could be cut short by a debilitating disease.
Credit: ITV / Britain's Got Talent
She suffers from scoliosis - a back condition meaning that the spine is curved to one side. It had left Julia's spine crushing her lung.
She showed the severe curvature in her back in a tweet earlier this year, saying: "I was really self-conscious of my body and never showed my scoliosis until this year on BGT."
@loosewomen I was really self conscious of my body & never showed my scoliosis until this year on BGT but here's a picture #MyBodyMyStory ❤
During her audition, 56-year-old Cowell told the teenager that "whatever happens, we'll make sure you're alright."
After two operations, she's now back on her feet and dancing again.
After the first operation, she tweeted: "Nine days post op and I'm dancing already, it was a long bumpy road to recovery but I did it! Second op tomorrow #strong #fighter #scoliosis."
After the second round of treatment, Julia provided an update when she said: "Second surgery was a success! Now on the road to recovery. Thank you @SimonCowell."
Second surgery was a success! Now on the road to recovery. Thankyou @SimonCowell @CowellOnline #strong #recovery #fighter
The operation, which took place in America, was expected to cost around £78,000 ($101,400) plus the airfare.
As a part of the Mersey Girls dance group, along with four friends, Julia made it all the way to the final. The group came ninth overall.
Simon said of their act: "You're uplifting and doing something positive."
Julia was just six-years-old when she was diagnosed with scoliosis and originally spoke of her embarrassment of showing off her body.
She said: "I always used to cover up my back to make sure no one could see it, and in rehearsals I didn't really want to take my T-shirt off.
"But then I got on stage and just did it. I realised I shouldn't care what people think. This experience has changed me as a person, I feel better in myself."
Nice work from Simon, and good luck to Julia in her recovery.
Featured Image Credit: Twitter / PATopics: Britain's Got Talent, Simon Cowell, BGT