LITTLE Aaron Franks-Lehane got his new feet on Friday.
The sprightly four-year-old, who was struck down with meningococcal disease in November last year, was all smiles as he tried on the prosthetics. "He's been so excited about getting his new feet," Aaron's mum Michelle Lehane said. "There's just no stopping him." The past five months have been an inspiring journey for the Kaleen boy who, through amputations and immense pain, has shown the strength and resilience of someone much older. "He's such a fighter and he's just coped so well though all of this, "Ms Lehane said. "We're really proud of him."
When the frightening bacterial infection took hold of Aaron's tiny body and sent him spiraling into cardiac arrest and on to life support, doctors at Canberra Hospital's intensive-care unit told his parents he would probably die. But after 10 excruciatingly long days, Aaron opened his big, brown eyes and flashed the cheeky smile which has softened the hearts of medical staff who have cared for him since his ordeal began.
Although his life was spared, Aaron emerged from the brink of death with blackened feet and fingers. His feet were amputated in January. "he's not letting it hold him back at all," Ms Lehane said. "He started pre-school a few weeks ago, which he loves. "There's another little girl there with a disability. She has a walking frame, she has a problem with one of her legs, so the kids were used to someone a little bit different by the time Aaron started. "It's been a really good experience for him. [The meningococcal} may have slowed him down a bit but he loves having fun and it hasn't stopped him from playing.
"At home he spends a lot of time on the trampoline. He gets on all fours, bounces around and looks just like Pepe le Phew [a cartoon skunk]. "He does little somersaults and all sorts of things." A trust fund has been established and fund-raising activities are being planned to help cover the ongoing costs of Aaron's recovery.