A BIGGERA Waters woman will have her desperately needed $25,000 hip replacement operation free this month thanks to a team of Gold Coast health professionals.

Kerryn Brewer has been waiting to see a specialist at the Gold Coast Hospital since her doctor referred here there last September.

The 47-year-old had no prospect of an appointment date, let alone surgery, in the clogged public system.

Her daughter Sarah told her story to the Bulletin last week, afraid her mum would not be able to walk at her school graduation this year.

Mrs Brewer suffers from a congenital hip condition and now bone is grinding on bone in her hip, causing her severe pain and discomfort.

The mother of three cannot walk more than a few steps and lives on painkillers.

After reading her story in Saturday’s Bulletin, Sam Scott-Young of prosthetic hip distributor Orthotech contacted Southport orthopaedic surgeon Dr Neil Cleaver to see what the pair could do.

Mr Scott-Young will donate the $12,500 Furlong hip system, while Dr Cleaver will perform the surgery free.

Allamanda Private Hospital general manager David Harper said the hospital would not charge for use of its facilities.

Mrs Brewer and her family said they were “blown away” by the generosity.

“We didn’t expect anything like this to happen,” she said.

Dr Cleaver said Mrs Brewer’s circumstances were exceptional because of her age and condition.

“This will cause severe disability if left untreated, and someone like Mrs Brewer could be walking and back in the workforce,” Dr Cleaver said.

“This highlights the importance of having private health insurance where the public hospitals are underfunded.”

Mr Scott-Young said the Furlong hip had the best longevity of any prosthesis on the market.

“It’s far superior to anything used in the public sector,” he said.

“In the public sector there’s pricing pressure, so you get a cheaper product.”

Kerryn’s surgery will take place on August 23.