22 Kids and Counting star faces major health dilemma after 'traumatising' surgery ordeal: 'Very painful'

In 2019, the teenager had a frame fitted around her leg to try and lengthen the limb but five years on, the Radford is facing the prospect of further operations to try and remedy the issue.

In Sunday's episode of 22 Kids and Counting, Channel 5 viewers witness firsthand the harrowing decision the 14-year-old now faces as doctors and her dad encourage her to go under the knife again to prevent complications down the line.

"My leg isn't growing and I'm very lopsided," the teen tells viewers. "If I don't go on my tiptoe then I go like this."

She then begins to sway to one side before she explains further: "One leg will be shorter than the other one and it's really uncomfortable to walk on. I walk around for a few minutes and then I'll instantly have a lot of pain in my ankle and my hip."

"We noticed a massive change in her limp especially," her dad-of-22 weighs in before she opens up: "On my first operation with the cage on my leg, it was very painful.

"Trying to walk on it, I just couldn't do it because the pain was unbearable. I told my dad I really hated the look of looking at it. I wasn't happy."

The 53-year-old Radford patriarch then tells the camera: "The last time we met the consultant, Tillie was just like, 'Nah I don't want another operation'.

"She was happy just to have an orthopedic shoe and carry on with life like that but I don't think Tillie realises she'll get the hip problems later on in life."

Four years post-surgery, Tillie Radford still has leg troubles. She fears another operation and leg cage due to her past trauma and potential bullying 😣

📺 #22Kids & Counting, Sunday 8pm pic.twitter.com/OFO4326GPn

— Channel 5 (@channel5_tv) August 17, 2024

Later in the show, the father and daughter speak directly to one another to mull over their options - and the teenager is clearly uneasy.

Her dad says: "I mean, he did explain to you why it would be more positive to have it done.

"When you're older... the health issues it will bring you if you don't have it done. It's your leg, I think you're old enough now to decide."

Even though her dad has put the ball in her court, the schoolgirl still remains uncertain: "When I first got the surgery, I came out of it and I just never wanted to look at it. That all looked..."

"I do remember you didn't take the bed covers off or anything, you didn't want anyone to see," her dad sympathises.

"It was a lot bigger than what you thought, wasn't it, and was quite traumatising to see."

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In a heartbreaking admission, the 14-year-old confessed it wasn't just the toll on her body which is putting her off the operation.

"I've got to think about what kids would say, as well," she tells her dad. "Every day, some kids say, 'Why do you limp? Why do you wear odd shoes?'

"They'll find any way to talk about it. I just really don't know if I can go through that again, that whole thing."

Noel is hurt by the idea that bullies would play a part in such a major life decision and later in the episode, he accompanies his daughter to the ice rink so she can fulfill her dream of learning to ice skate.

Fans will have to tune in to 22 Kids and Counting to see whether or not the Radford teen will decide to undergo yet another operation on her limb.