AFTER surviving two life-threatening brain operations and having to learn to walk and talk again, a little girl from Stanhope Gardens is hoping to still be able to join her friends on a group dance tour to Disneyland next year.

Nine-year-old Tesia Misoni-Osborne has been dancing at the Caper School of Performing Arts in Bella Vista for five years and was excited about joining 50 of the school's best dancers on a trip to California next year.

That excitment ended abruptly after she suffered an aneurism in March.

Doctors found two blood clots in her brain and placed her in a medically induced coma for two weeks, unsure if she would survive.

Melita Misoni, a single parent with another two younger children, said thinking she might never see her daughter again was a horrible feeling.

``I remember looking out a window and thinking this shouldn't happen,'' she said.

``All I could do was trust the doctors.

Tesia came out of her coma partially paralysed and brain-damaged and had to put all her strength into relearning how to walk and talk again.

She recently returned to school and visited the dance studio where her friends threw a party for her.

``I walked through the door and they all yelled `welcome back','' she said.

``We listened to some tap and jazz. It was so much fun.''

During her recovery in hospital she had a poster of Disneyland on the wall as an inspiration to recover.

``I think I'm a miracle because of what I've been through and I survived the whole thing,'' Tesia said.

``I'm very excited about going to Disneyland next year and I want to start dancing again soon.''

Caper School of Performing Arts is raising funds to help Tesia and her mum with the trip costs. To donate, call 94285714.