The 15-year-old stepped out at her prom ball in all her finery to show readers how fantastic she looks following a lifetime of operations.

When Cody was first featured in the Evening Telegraph in the early 1990s with a birthmark that mishaped the left side of her face, readers responded by raising £230,000 in just over a year to help pay for surgery.

And today, the Lodge Park Technology College pupil who attended her leaving ball at the Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, said: "I just want to say a big thank you to everybody. It means so much to me that people went out of their way to help and support me. I want people to know how much I appreciate it."

A gruelling 18 trips to America and extensive surgery including face-lifts, liposuction, rhinoplasty and laser surgery have reshaped the left side of Cody's face which had been disfigured by the growth, that developed when she was four-months-old.

After an appeal for help in the Evening Telegraph when she was less than 12-months-old, readers went into fundraising overdrive and the Hall family were caught up in a whirlwind of activity as county people pulled out all the stops to raise money to pay for the plastic surgery.

So far the surgery and trips to America have cost about £190,000.

Mum Theresa, 43, who works at Glenmoor House in Corby, said: "When Cody first appeared in the Evening Telegraph the whole town just went crazy.

"We want to be able to show people how she has turned out and just how great she looks."

And dad Tony, 42, said: "She has grown up to be a well adjusted young lady.

"We feared for her future. We didn't know what the future held for her but there was always hope."


Please see today's edition of the Evening Telegraph to read more about Cody Hall.