Blast victim, 11, attends her prom

ACACIA, right and her best friend Olivia Fox, aged 11

ACACIA Seward was determined to go to her school leaving do without her crutches ­- and she did just that.

The 11-year-old Hulme Grammar pupil from Bardsley was at the Manchester Arena on the night of May 22 when there was a blast.

She had to spend six days in hospital after undergoing two operations to remove shrapnel from her legs. The shrapnel that hit her left leg pierced an artery and lodged just above her knee. She needed both internal and external stitches to both legs.

Since then she had to walk on crutches and was unable to fully participate in her gymnastics and netball training sessions.

But she told the Chronicle last Tuesday that she had her prom on Friday at Infinity Dance Studio and she would ­- not might ­- walk in without her crutches.

Acacia had a lot of fun on the evening, getting ready for the big event at her friend's house and wearing her brand new dress, before making their way to the prom and dancing the night away.

Proud mum Shula Coward said she had no doubts Acacia would achieve her goal but she left it to Acacia to sort out herself.

She said: "She walked in, but we kept her crutches on standby. There were some things she couldn't join in with, the limbo for example. She had an amazing time. She's really active and popular at school.

"It's really difficult trying to think how you can manage your child's expectations. It was something we didn't discuss with her.

"All of a sudden she came on in leaps and bounds. When she had the physio session last Monday we both knew she would be able to do it. We didn't tell her she would; I thought I would leave her to it, let her sort out her own goal in her head and not put any pressure on her.

"She had a brilliant time on the night."

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