An 18-year-old who has been waiting three years for an operation to treat his scoliosis is trying to keep his spirits up in anticipation of the final go-ahead from his doctors.

Aaron Camilleri is hoping that the surgery will come soon, after his mother poured out her concerns over the apparent delay on Facebook and the government reacted by looking into his case.

Born with spina bifida, Aaron was told three years ago that he needed an operation. But for the following two years tests and the surgery itself kept being postponed, his mother Doreen said.

When last October Aaron and his father Pierre were sent to England for the much-awaited operation, they were informed the surgery could not take place because of the boy’s high blood pressure.

One year on and his mother says they are still going around in circles and her son’s scoliosis had worsened to the extent that he sometimes has to sleep sitting down because he has difficulty breathing.

So at the beginning of September, Ms Camilleri told his story on Facebook and it was soon picked up by the media. The government then asked Mater Dei Hospital to look into the case.

When contacted yesterday, Ms Camilleri said the family had met the hospital authorities and Aaron had undergone several health tests, including monitoring of his blood pressure.

They got positive feedback and are now waiting for the go-ahead from doctors to receive treatment abroad.

After she went public with her son’s story, Ms Camilleri found “incredible support” from the Maltese, which has also lifted Aaron’s spirits.

“No one beats the Maltese when it comes to support and encouragement. People are still calling to this day – some to share similar experiences, others to see if they can be of any help. We’re grateful for all the support we have received,” Ms Camilleri said.