Brave five-year-old who lost limbs to meningitis gets the Christmas present she always wanted
Charlotte Nott, who lost all her limbs when she fell ill with meningitis, was delighted to wake up on Christmas Day to find her first ever tricycle under the tree
A five-year-old girl who lost both arms and legs to meningitis got an extra-special Christmas present this year - her first ever bike.
Charlotte Nott beat incredible odds to survive after being struck down with the deadly virus two years ago.
Only a month before she was diagnosed, little Charlotte had fallen in love with a bike she'd seen while on a shopping trip with her parents.
Mum Jenny and dad Alex, both 32 from Oxford, secretly bought the bike, hoping to surprise her with it onChristmas Day.
But just two weeks before Christmas 2011, Jenny noticed a rash of purple marks on Charlotte's chest and she was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed her withmeningococcal septicemia.
Doctors were forced to amputate little Charlotte's arms and legs below the joint before she had a chance to ride her new bike.
Full-time mum Jenny, who is now separated from Alex, said: “Charlotte had never had a proper bike of her own before she became ill.
“But she’d fallen in love with cycling after been given a little tricycle by her cousin. She used to spend hours on it, peddling for miles and miles."
Within hours of being taken to hospital, Charlotte had suffered multiple organ failure and doctors were fighting to save her life.
She left hospital in January 2012, and since then has shown incredible courage adapting to life as a quadruple amputee.
Last year, an anonymous donor paid for a pair of pink, sparkly prosthetic legs for Charlotte - and ever since she's been trying to ride the bike she fell in love with three Christmases ago.
Jenny said: “Charlotte tried desperately hard to ride the bike. She would spend an hour just trying to cycle three metres.
“It was incredibly difficult for her – no matter how much effort she put in, she struggled to turn the pedals with her prosthetic legs.
She added: “In the years since, she has asked for bike every Christmas and every birthday. It’s the only thing she really wanted.
“We looked everywhere and Charlotte tried out so many bikes but nothing seemed to work. There was almost a point when I did feel like we’d have to give up.”
Charlotte's dreams were answered in August, when the family attended National Paralympic Day in London, when the family spotted a three-wheeled bike made by Pashley Cycles.
Jenny asked if Charlotte could have a go on the bike and within minutes she was cycling comfortably for the first time.
“It was absolutely incredible," said Jenny. "We’d waited so long but we’d finally found a bike that was the right fit for Charlotte.”
Using £400 raised from Charlotte's charity trust fund, Jenny bought a tricycle that was custom made to her daughter's measurements. She even convinced the company to break with tradition and paint the bike pink, Charlottte's favourite colour.
Jenny said: “Charlotte has waited so long and she’s been so patient so it was so incredible to be able to finally give her her first bike this Christmas.
“The look on her face when she’s riding it is just pure delight. It’s so heart-warming to see.
“Everyone remembers getting their first bike but I think Charlotte will really treasure this moment for the rest of her life.”
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