Awe-inspiring courage of girl, seven, who lost her limbs to meningitis as she walks for first time after SEVENTY SIX operations

A little girl who had to have both her legs and an arm amputated after contracting meningitis is able walk thanks to a new pair of legs.
Ellie-Mae Mellor, seven, has taken her first steps after losing three limbs to the deadly bug meningococcal septicaemia as a baby.
Doctors told devastated parents, Kelly and Billy, that Ellie-Mae would die after she was rushed into hospital days before her first birthday - and even advised them to organise the last rites for their daughter.

Survivor: After 76 operations, seven-year-old Ellie-Mae has learned to walk on a pair of 'rocking' legs. She caught meningitis just before her first birthday and lost both her legs and an arm

But as the infection took hold, battling Ellie-Mae, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, stunned them all by getting stronger each day. She has since undergone 76 operations including three amputations.
And now, after years of hospital appointments and risky surgeries, the schoolgirl has learned to walk on brand new legs - and she has vowed to complete a sponsored walk to raise money for her local school church.

Kelly, 34, said: 'I am so proud of my daughter. Ellie-Mae always has a smile on her face.
'She was so young when she got meningitis that she hadn't learned to walk at all - so she doesn't know any different.

Ellie-Mae was a healthy baby before she caught meningitis just before her first birthday. Within hours of being infected she was displaying symptoms including a bright purple rash

'Ellie-Mae never grumbles or complains, she doesn't see herself as any different to her friends, and does everything they do.
'When doctors told me they needed to amputate, I didn't think twice about giving them permission. I just wanted them to do whatever it took to save my little girl.
Ellie hasn't been able to use prosthetic legs up until now, as she has been growing so quickly, but she has learned to walk on a pair of 'rocking' legs, which she can walk about on really easily.'
Lunchtime supervisor Kelly rushed Ellie-Mae to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire after she developed a small red bruise on her head, three days before her first birthday, in February 2007.

Doctors were forced to amputate three limbs because of blood poisoning caused by meningitis. Her mother Kelly said that she didn't care that her baby needed the surgery because she just wanted her to survive

But within hours, the little girl was covered from head to toe in a purple rash - and medics didn't believe she would pull survive.
Kelly said: 'I could see how seriously ill Ellie-Mae was straight away, as the doctors were running around her frantically.
'When they said she had meningitis, I went numb. They told me I should let her have the last rites, as she probably wouldn't last the night.

Ellie-Mae never grumbles or complains about her disability, and doesn't see herself as any different to her friends (such as pals Leah and Owen Rigby, pictured). Her school makes sure she is included in all activities too

'We had Ellie-Mae baptised, but we refused to let her have the last rites - it felt like we would have been giving up on her.
'I don't remember feeling anything. I couldn't believe this was happening to my daughter.
'I couldn't prepare myself to lose her, but by the next day, she was still fighting.
'Doctors did everything they could to fight the infection, but they said pretty soon they would have to amputate one of her legs and her arm.

'I didn't care, as long as she was alive.'

Mother Kelly (pictured) said that she is exceptionally proud of her daughter who now plans to do a sponsored walk to raise £250 to repair her school roof

Ellie-Mae was transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital in March, before being allowed home in July.

Ellie Mae (pictured before meningitis) has always been a 'smiley child'

But just days later, she was taken back into hospital, after the bone in her remaining leg had 'died' - and doctors were forced to amputate it.
As Ellie-Mae grew, she has had to endure dozens of painful operations.
But despite everything she has been through, Ellie-Mae is still determined to help others - and told her parents that she wanted to complete a sponsored walk with her friend, Leah Rigby, to raise money to repair the roof at the church attached to her school.
Ellie-Mae said: 'I wanted to do it so we could help with the church roof, I am looking forward to it. It will be a challenge.'

Kelly added: 'The school and the church have done so much for her and we wanted to say thank you.
'Nothing has been too much trouble. They make sure she can take part in activities and school trips.
'It is a fantastic idea, I know hundreds of people do sponsored walks but the difference is Ellie-Mae has no legs.
'It will be a massive challenge, I am immensely proud. She has been through so much yet she has always got a smile on her face and never lets anything get her down.
'And the fact that she is doing this to help other people, well, we couldn't ask for anything better from her.'

Ellie-Mae, who hopes to raise £250, added: 'Even if we could just help a little bit towards it that would be great.'

Just a typical girl: Ellie-Mae enjoys playing with her dollhouse when she isn't doing selfless charity work. She said: 'I wanted to do [the walk] so we could help with the church roof, I am looking forward to it. It will be a challenge'

Ian Beardmore, headteacher of St Mary's Catholic Primary School, in Stoke, Staffs, said: 'The church roof is in desperate need of funds. If these funds are not raised the church would have to close.
'I remember sitting in a room with about 15 professionals, each of them said that Ellie was unlikely to be able to move her torso, let alone walk.
'The fact that Ellie is now going to be doing a sponsored walk to say thank you to our school and church is nothing less than a miracle.
'She has added so much to our community and I honestly feel that she is the most inspirational and determined child I have ever met.'

Church members launched a £130,000 appeal this month to replace the roof after metal thieves targeted the building.
So far £25,000 has been donated to the cause, which must be completed before the summer ends or the church may have to close for good.

To donate visit elliemaemellor.co.uk
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