Getting his new “leggies” was the moment Arthur Long’s parents Carly and Nathan had looked forward to ever since they had to tell their toddler his feet got sick and didn’t get better.
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The two year old contracted meningococcal earlier this year as was left fighting for his life in intensive care.
He beat the infection but his feet and part of his right hand had to be amputated and his spleen removed.
When the family arrived in the Royal Children’s Hospital in October to have his prosthetics fitted, Arthur spotted his “leggies” from the unique digger pattern he had requested.
“He was pretty excited to see them, he’d picked out the print so he recognised them as his legs,” Carly said.
“He put them on and did his first little walk between the two bars and he went really well.
“We were talking about getting him an assisted walker for a while but decided he could just hang onto hands.
“He didn’t want them on the majority of time because he was quicker off them and then once he started to realise he could do more with them on he just went from there.”
Arthur’s first public outing on his new legs was the Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Launceston’s City Park.
“Up until then he’d always wanted me right next to him and then I wasn’t moving quickly enough for him so he started going off on his own.”
Arthur loves his new leggies and the mobility they are giving him
“Sometimes if he meets a new little person at a park he’ll let them know that they’re his new leggies.
“He’s got diggers on those ones and we’ve asked ‘what do you think you’re going to want on your next leggies?’ and he had a think about it and then he told me tractors.”
Carly said it meant a lot for her and Nathan when Arthur was finally able to walk.
“It’s been a long, long time, especially in a two year old’s mind. He’s been getting around as best he can on his knees but actually to see him up walking again.
“For Christmas we got him a balance bike and when we first got home with the legs we said, ‘do you want to have a try on that?’ and he was pretty excited but he’s not quite there so we went and got him a scooter so he’s getting the hang of that walking it around.
“Obviously when he was first up that was exciting and then when we first got home I set up little obstacle courses so he always had something to walk to.”
Arthur is now running laps around the family’s Riverside home.
The family were in Melbourne on Friday for more operations on his hands. Arthur faces more skin grafts on his scarred hands, which will continue as he grows.
On Friday a golf day, charity auction and dinner organised by Riverside Lions Club at the Riverside Gold Club raised funds for Arthur’s future medical expenses.
The golf day was arranged by Arthur’s grandfather Terry Pitt and great uncle Mark Brown and attended by fellow meningococcal survivor Mike Rolls.
Mr Rolls, who also lost both his legs to the infection, has become friends with Arthur and the family and a source of inspiration for what life as a double amputee looks like.
Mr Rolls, who was in Melbourne when Arthur got his new legs fitted, is a motivational speaker and plays golf off a handicap of four.
The family wished to thank the community, particularly their home town of Westbury, for its tremendous support.
They also wanted to continue to raise awareness for vaccinations and for people to be aware of the different strains of meningococcal.
Meningococcal Fast Facts:
- Meningococcal disease is a medical emergency. It can kill within hours, so early diagnosis and treatment is vital. Do not wait for the purple rash to appear as that is a critical stage of the disease.
- Symptom include fever (which may not go down with medication), nausea or vomiting, lack of energy, tiredness or drowsiness, confusion or disorientation, dizziness, irritability or agitation, a sore throat
- Meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread by sharing drinks, food or cigarettes.
- Meningococcal disease can strike babies, children and adults – anywhere, at any time. Those most at risk are: Babies and children up to the age of 5 years – this group accounts for two thirds of cases (due to their less mature immune system and tendency to put things in their mouth and share food, drink and toys). Teenagers and young adults from 15 to 24 years – primarily because of the socially interactive lifestyle they lead, which is more likely to involve activities such as kissing and sharing drinks.
- Source: Meningococcal Australia.
