A mother has revealed the moving moment her one-year-old daughter took her first steps using a new prosthetic limb four months after undergoing a life-changing surgery.

Parents Charlotte and James Dodding, from Blackpool, made the difficult decision for Willow to undergo surgery after she was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia.

The rare condition, estimated to affect around one in 40,000 births, causes the fibula bone in the lower leg to develop only partially or not at all.

Charlotte made the tough decision for the front part of Willow’s foot to be surgically removed in January—when she was 19 months old—to give her the best chance of mobility later in life, saying: “She was a little upset when she woke up from the operation, but she’s absolutely fine now.”

Four months later, the proud parents captured on camera the first time their little girl used her custom-made prosthetic leg.

Charlotte and James, a teacher, discovered they were expecting their first baby in November.

At the routine 20-week scan, doctors explained that their daughter was missing the fibula bone in her right leg, and she was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia.

Willow still had the two remaining bones in her right leg—the tibia and femur—but they were shorter, leaving her legs different lengths.

Charlotte said: “It was quite a shock to hear that news. There’s no reason for it—it was simply a random genetic change.”

Before Willow was born, Charlotte and James were advised to “wait and see” how the condition developed before deciding on the best treatment.

She arrived in July at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, weighing 5lb 13oz, and doctors confirmed the two remaining bones in her right leg were shorter than those in her left leg.

Despite the challenges Willow faced, the determined toddler reached all of her developmental milestones—Charlotte said she was even crawling and walking earlier than expected.

As Willow grew older, she began walking, but the difference in leg length caused her to limp and limited her mobility.

She started wearing an orthotic and a knee brace to support her ankle as a temporary measure.

Doctors recommended a Syme procedure—which involves removing the front of the foot while preserving the heel pad.

This meant she could comfortably wear a prosthetic and move more freely.

Charlotte said: “She used to walk on the inside of her foot quite badly and her knee would ‘pop’ out of place.

“We looked at leg lengthening, but that would involve lots of operations and we wanted her to have a normal childhood.

“Also, it didn’t guarantee she wouldn’t need the same procedure when she was older anyway.”

It took surgeons at Manchester Children’s Hospital two-and-a-half hours to successfully carry out the Syme procedure, which involved removing the front half of her foot while preserving the heel pad.

She later received a custom-made prosthetic leg from Preston Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre, using fabric from her favorite top on the outside of the prosthetic.

In May, just four months after the surgery, Willow was confidently walking with her new prosthetic, as seen in the heartwarming photos.

The proud parents captured the first time their daughter used the custom-made prosthetic, designed with floral fabric from a top she wore as a baby by Preston Specialist Mobility Rehabilitation Centre.

Charlotte said: “She couldn’t wait to get moving again and I remember her trying to crawl the day after her operation.

“In fact, I don’t think she remembers having her foot—she is so comfortable with the prosthetic.”

An adorable clip, filmed last month, shows a smiling Willow taking her first steps with her custom-made prosthetic while her delighted parents cheer her on in the background.

Charlotte said: “Our goal is to raise awareness of fibular hemimelia and support other families.

“She’s doing so well and we’re really thankful for the amazing prosthetic.”

Charlotte added: “We’re so proud of Willow. She’s so determined and resilient—nothing holds her back.

“It was a tough decision to choose this surgery, but we knew it was the best option.

“She’s already walking confidently with her new prosthetic. We’re so proud of her.”