Aaron, 4, to lose his feet but not his wheels
By Renee Cutrupi

LITTLE Aaron Franks-Lehane will have his feet removed this week. But not that it's troubling the sprightly four-year-old meningococcal disease survivor.
In fact, Aaron is far more worried about spending time in hospital away from his new companion - his wheelchair. "Aaron's come a long way," his mother, Michelle Lehane, of Kaleen, said. "He's adapted really well and he absolutely loves the wheelchair. He does doughnuts and skids all around the house in it.
"It's just his fun thing and no-one else has one. We're very proud of him because despite his age he know that he has to go to hospital to get his legs cut off, and he really is handling it quite well." It was a hot and sticky night in November last year when meningococcal disease stuck Aaron with lighting speed. He spent the next 10 days teetering on the brink of death in the intensive-care unit at Canberra Hospital.His heart spiraled into cardiac arrest and he had to be placed on life support.
Doctors gave Aaron a 25% chance of survival because the frightening bacterial infection had almost squeezed the life out of his tiny body. His feet and most of his fingers had turned black. But amid the pain and dire diagnosis, brave Aaron began fighting back.
Today, that fight continues. Numerous surgical procedures to repair or remove damage caused by meningococcal disease will dot his future. He will require prosthetics and lots of therapy. "Aaron has quite and amazing understanding of what's happening," Ms Lehane said. "But he has said "they can take my feet but they can't take my bendy bits. They can't have my knee's'. We assured him that o matter what happens, he will keep his knees.

Fund-raising activities are being planned for later this year to help with the expenses associated with Aaron's recovery.