MBOMBELA – There were tears of joy when a three-year-old girl, who was born with deformed legs, took her first step with artificial legs last Thursday.

Her biggest dream was not to have a Barbie doll, but to have legs so that she could wear shoes just like her friends.
Her story touched a local orthopaedic surgeon who decided to help her free of charge.

In December last year the girl burst into tears after realising her parents could not buy shoes for Christmas due to her condition. They bought her the shoes regardless, just to see their little girl smile again.

She and her mother, a domestic worker, could not contain their joy when the legs were fitted
“My biggest worry was that she would not be able to go to school, but now she will have a brighter future without being limited by her condition,” she said.

Despite the setback, the little girl never showed any signs of despair because of her condition.
“When she turned a year old, I noticed that she was able to do everything like all other toddlers, even though she did not have legs. I don’t know how to thank all the people who made my daughter’s dream come true. I could not afford to buy her artificial legs and now we have got them free of charge. May almighty God bless them. I still don’t believe

it’s happening, my child will walk for the first time since she was born.”

As part of her rehabilitation process the little girl will work with a therapist from LowMed, who will teach her to walk properly on her prosthetics.