A seven-year-old girl performed a Christmas miracle by dancing in The Nutcracker after recovering from an accident that left her without feet just months earlier.
For the past two years, Aubrey Scaletta and her twin sister Grayson have performed together in the classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” in Roanoke, Virginia.
But this year it was unclear whether Aubrey would be able to join her sister on stage after she suffered a serious accident just eight months earlier.
The brutal accident left the young girl without feet and requiring six surgeries to reattach her feet, ABC reported.
Aubrey was determined to take part in the production for the third year in a row and even managed to perform without her wheelchair after months of doubting whether she would ever walk again.
A seven-year-old girl performed a Christmas miracle by dancing in The Nutcracker after recovering from an accident that left her without feet just months earlier
For the past two years, Aubrey Scaletta and her twin sister Grayson have performed together in the classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” in Roanoke, Virginia
This year it was unclear whether Aubrey would be able to join her sister on stage after she suffered a serious accident just eight months earlier
“This is the third year for her and her sister, so I think at the beginning…she had no doubt that it was happening,” Lauren Scaletta told Good Morning America.
“She was in a wheelchair, but really wanted to do the parts with her feet, and when she was able to do it with a walker, she was just thrilled.”
Aubrey's very supportive and loyal twin sister Grayson, whom her parents called her “protector,” gave up dancing during Aubrey's recovery.
When Aubrey finally returned to dancing, Grayson joined her too.
The incident came as tragedy struck as Aubrey's father, Daniel Scaletta, was driving her home from gymnastics in May.
The young girl was playing with a ratchet strap normally used to tie down cargo. One end was tied around her feet, the other end flew out the window and was wrapped around the axle of the truck.
According to her father, the freak accident caused Aubrey great pain. “There was a loud bang and the whole truck shook and Aubrey screamed, 'I'm bleeding,'” Scaletta recalled. “I turned around and looked and saw her injuries.”
Scaletta was only three miles from a hospital – so he took Aubrey there immediately. However, due to the severity of her injuries, she was transported by helicopter to a larger hospital.
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital had a Level 1 pediatric trauma center where Aubrey underwent initial reattachment surgery that same day.
The brutal accident left the young girl with no feet and had to undergo six surgeries to reattach her feet
Undecided about taking part in the production for the third year in a row – Aubrey even managed to perform without her wheelchair after months of doubting whether she would ever walk again
Medical staff said such an operation would normally take days to prepare and they did everything in 15 minutes.
“We had to operate quickly to restore blood flow and reattach her feet to her legs,” said Dr. Peter Apel, the orthopedic surgeon who led the operation. “If we had waited even a few hours, the feet would have died and definitely been amputated.”
The first operation to fix her feet was successful – but until October it was unclear whether the results would last.
Aubrey's mother said: “After the first operation there was a lot of doubt as to whether her right leg would be able to do it because the veins were badly damaged.” And then as we progressed, I thought: “Okay, we're past this hurdle.” done. We made it over this hurdle. We look better.”
Her father said there was uncertainty about Aubrey's recovery all summer. “If you had asked me in September if we would be where we are today, I would never have guessed.” “The last few months have been nothing short of amazing in her healing process,” Scaletta said.
Aubrey underwent six rounds of surgery – including multiple skin grafts to cover the skin she lost or damaged in the accident with her healthy skin.
She began physical therapy in October and was finally able to put weight on her feet for the first time since the accident eight months ago.
In the fall, the seven-year-old was finally able to go back to school – where she got around in a wheelchair.
At first she had casts on both legs, but eventually the casts were removed – which, according to Aubrey's mother, Lauren Scaletta, made her daughter nervous because she was afraid of having to return to school and letting her classmates see her legs.
Aubrey's parents reassured her that she had nothing to fear, saying, “Your scars are just a part of you.”
The opportunity to appear in “The Nutcracker” was an incredible moment for Aubrey after many months of uncertainty and fear, her father said. “I think it was a big confidence boost for her.”
Her father said there was uncertainty about Aubrey's recovery all summer. “If you had asked me in September if we would be where we are today, I would never have guessed.” “The last few months have been nothing short of amazing in her healing process,” Scaletta said
“She loves it and we’re just really grateful that she was able to be up there again and dancing and doing what she loves.”
“As twins, they spent their first time in the hospital separately with Aubrey, which was a big adjustment,” he said.
“Seeing them dance together again was just incredible.”
“It's hard to say that you can take a breath and relax a little because we're constantly worried, but it's amazing that we're at a point where we can focus on Christmas and enjoy it and have this time together.” said Mr. Scaletta.
“Everything had to be right for us to be where we are now.”
Doctors say Aubrey will need more surgeries in the future – once she's finished growing.