Sarah was born with right fibular hemimelia. She had one big toe and 2 small webbed toes and her foot was bent out. She also had the typical bowing of the tibia and cute little dimple and a length discrepancy of I am not sure how much as we never measured it. We went for the Symes amputation (through the ankle joint) when she was 17 months old. We had discussions about limb lengthening but decided that one operation would be enough to put her through and let her get on with life. She had a boot fitted at 9 months when she started to pull herself up to stand. She never needed built up shoes as the prosthetist made the little leg with velcro at the back and built up the little foot so she has always worn normal shoes. We did have to buy odd pairs for a while until her surgery but not since, and we were lucky in that there was a local Clark's factory 2nds shop near us which would often have odd pairs of shoes anyway and we would just buy those.

Sarah is now 8 and has never looked back. She had her surgery on a Tuesday morning and was home on Thursday, climbing everywhere. 2 weeks later she had her stitches removed and as soon as the swelling went down she was fitted with her first proper prosthesis. She walked within 20 minutes of getting her new leg even though they said it would take her 2 weeks to walk again. She had started to walk at 13 months and as she grew they just added a bit to the bottom of the foot until surgery. Even now when she gets a new leg which can be 3 to 4 times a year she will just take off the old one and on with the new and off she goes.

She has been swimming since she was 6 months and is learning to dive in with the other kids. She has done ballet and jazz dance and has been doing gymnastics since she was 3 (and won 1st overall for her year last year). Her latest craze is learning to surf with an organisation here in Sydney called the disabled surfers and she can now get herself up on a longboard in the water and wait for little waves. She even takes her leg off and shows off by standing on her stump and good leg.

Sarah is loved by all at school and has never been teased as she talks freely about her leg and takes it off for anybody who wants a look. We have met so many wonderful people because of Sarah - both able-bodied and those with a limb difference - whom we would never have met if Sarah did not have fibular hemimelia, and we are happy she had the amputation. She only goes to the hospital now about 3 times a year when she needs a new leg and only misses an hour out of school each time.

Patricia and Tom Walsh

Hi All. Thought you might like to see this photo. Sarah is returning most of her legs back to the Prosthetic maker tomorrow and we thought we would take a photo of all the limbs she has had since she got her first one eight years ago. There were two more but they were given to the hospital for teaching purposes.

Sarah got a new leg today. It's a bit different. Thought you might like a look.

Best wishes Patricia and Tom Walsh Patricia Walsh

Update March 2008.  Sarah's mum Pat writes to say:

"Today Sarah swam at the Catholic schools swimming finals at the Olympic pool at Homebush.  She won 2 Bronze medals in the swimmers with a Disability in the 50m freestyle and backstroke and will now represent NSW catholic schools in the combined Sate and catholic schools NSW State finals at home bush in April.  We are all very excited as she swam really well."