LONDON - A Brit girl, who earned the nickname Human Tortoise for the body cast she had to wear, has finally been able to get rid of it after 12 years.

Megan Parker, who lives with mum Tina, dad Robert and brother Zac in Colchester, Essex, was diagnosed with curvature of the spine at just six weeks old, and, at 18 months, she was given the “shell” to help correct her twisted back.

She has had to undergo more than 40 operations, including repeated surgery to tighten titanium rods as she grew.

But now, at age 14, she is free to look forward to a normal life.

“There is so much that I want to do now, but I have to take things steady because it’s still early days,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

“It has completely opened up the world to me.

“I could never wear girly clothes before - and I had never had my hair cut at a salon because I couldn’t bend my head over the sinks. It just shows why you should never give up hope,” she said.

Megan has even proved that she’s on track for a full recovery by taking up go-karting.

“Driving a go-kart was one of the first things she had wanted to do and it brought tears to our eyes when she finally did it,” Tina, 39, said.

“She is my miracle girl - she’s been through so much. The surgeons have been incredible and have transformed her life.

“She can play with friends as she has always wanted to. I feel like my little girl has finally come out of her shell - in both ways,” she added. (ANI)