Meningitis Research Foundation of Canada

Oh Ellie, now look who's walking . . . Girl who lost limbs to meningitis is back on her feet with new legs

Daily Telegraph
Fri 08 Dec 2006
Page: 003
Section: News
Byline: Catriona Davies

A TWO-year-old girl who lost her arms and legs to meningitis is taking on the world again with new prosthetic limbs.

Ellie Challis was 16 months old when she almost died and had to have her limbs amputated. She was given NHS prostheses but they were inflexible and she was only able to wear them for 20 minutes at a time because they were so painful.

Her plight touched thousands of people and her parents, Lisa and Paul, both betting shop managers, were overwhelmed by donations.

Ellie has now had legs with movable knee joints fitted by specialists at Dorset Orthopaedic Clinic. Mrs Challis, 33, said: "It is wonderful to see Ellie taking her first steps.

"When she lost her legs and arms, I just broke down in tears. I couldn't believe it had happened to my lovely, bubbly little girl. But she never stops laughing and giggling - and she loves her new legs.''

Ellie suffered from Group B, the most serious form of bacterial meningitis, inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. She also suffered blood poisoning caused by the infection.

Her mother initially took Ellie to hospital with sickness, fever and cold limbs. Blood tests came back clear and she was sent home.

Later, Mrs Challis noticed red spots on her back, which she recognised as a symptom of *meningitis* and took her back to hospital. Hours later, she was covered in deep purple marks. At one point, her heart stopped and her parents were called in to say goodbye. She recovered but needed the drastic surgery.

Mrs Challis, who lives in Romford, Essex, and has two older children, said: "We were devastated. All I could think about was how she was ever going to live a normal life.

"The operation took six hours and I was so shocked when I saw her - there was so little left of her.'' She said Ellie's twin, Sophie, became "her saviour'' when she came home from hospital.

The prosthetic fittings will need to be replaced about every six months as Ellie grows and the feet once a year, at a cost of pounds 10,000 to pounds 15,000 a year. She also has a special walking frame but will be able to move without it when she gets used to the new limbs.

Mrs Challis said: "She can walk a few steps on the legs but is just getting used to balancing on them. She's really trying hard and is very determined and is taking more steps day by day.

"She's marvellous considering she doesn't have any arms. She taught herself to eat using a spoon in between the stumps of her arms.''

Bob Watts, the managing director of Dorset Orthopaedics, said: "Ellie is a great little trouper. Some children become very frightened and you get to tell by the look in their eyes whether they can cope.''