Formal dream about to come true for Brisbane student Mackenziee Lawler

It’s been ten years in the making, but after 40 procedures and two major surgeries, but Brisbane student Mackenziee Lawler’s dreams will come true at her formal this year.

Mackenziee Lawler has been treated by physiotherapist Tim McGowan since she was four years old. Picture: Adam Head

IT’S been ten years in the making but Brisbane schoolgirl Mackenziee Lawler will finally have her wish to walk in high heels come true for her formal this year.

The 17-year-old has cerebral palsy and has had about 40 procedures over the course of her lifetime, including two major knee surgeries in the past six months – however the young girl is determined and excited to achieve her goal.

“Even though it’s been hard work we’re so close to reaching the goal now,” she said. “It’s been around ten years I’ve had the goal to walk in heels but we’ve just started to ramp up physio sessions after the past two surgeries I’ve had in the past six months.

“I have picked my dress – it’s a black ball gown with tulle and sparkly, very girly and lots of diamonds.”

Mackenziee is on her way to fulfilling her Year 3 promise to herself to walk to her Year 12 Formal wearing high heels. Picture: Adam Head

Mackenziee is a regular patient at the Queensland Children's Hospital and a Juiced TV star. Picture: Adam Head

Mackenziee’s mother Raelene said the journey has been hard, but they were determined to have her walk for her May formal.

“Mackenziee had two major knee operations in the last six months and out of that she’s only in the last three months started the full rehab to get her to be able to walk in her high heels,” she said.

“It’s been an extremely long journey but it helps when your child has a dream and a goal that you just got to keep going and that helps motivate the whole family and team.

“She wants to walk for her formal and that’s what we’ve been doing and in between the physio, surgeons, doctors and us, we will get there.”

Mackenziee recently nominated her long-term physiotherapist Dr Tim McGowan for Juiced TV’s Super Hero Awards.