Meningococcal
survivor can't wait to run and play
Aaron's amazing spirit By Renee Cutrupi.
Photograph: Melissa Adams. |
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AARON Franks-Lehane
is an amazing little boy. Two weeks ago surgeons removed his
badly damaged feet and most of his fingers but it hasn't stopped
the four-year-old meningococcal disease survivor from wanting
to play.
"Aaron is so glad his feet are gone, it's such a relief
for him," his mother Michelle Lehane said yesterday. "He's
not self-conscious about it at all. He gives people little stumpy
waves. He was doing that the day after surgery Now he's home
he's looking forward to moving on and getting new feet so he
can ride his bike and run around again."
The world changed for Aaron and his family in November last
year when meningococcal disease, which struck with lightning
speed, almost claimed his life. Doctors at Canberra Hospital
told his parents that he had only a 25 per cent chance of pulling
through. The deadly bacterial infection sent him into cardiac
arrest and turned his feet and most of his fingers black. But
the little fighter with the cheeky grin fought back. |
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Aaron is on the road to recovery and back playing with big sister
Mikayla, 8, at the family's Kaleen home. He will require more
surgical procedures, physical therapy and prosthetics as he
grows. A trust fund is being established for fund-raising activities
to ensure that all his needs are met. "We think his new
feet will be fitted in about six to eight weeks," Ms Lehane
said. "It's not too far away but it's going to feel like
forever for |
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Aaron. A lot of it depends on the healing of his stumps. Which are
actually healing really well."
"His hands still have little processes to go. They are still
healing but they are doing well. There still needs to be a bit of
work to one of his fingers but other than that he's managing quite
well. He's drawing, he's dressing himself, he's feeding himself. They
don't seem to bother him too much at all. He really is our little
fighter."
"He crawls around the house, slides all over the floor."
"We are extremely proud of him. In some ways he's made it easier
for us to cope, which in turn has made it easier to help him cope.
Aaron has an amazing strength of character. We don't think this is
going to hold him back at all." |
