Zee Media Bureau
When Ellie was 15 months old, she underwent a surgery to amputate both of her legs through the knees.
Ellie, now 4, suffers from tibial aplasia ectrodactyly, a genetic disorder that caused her legs to be amputated to her knees and her hands to look different, too.
According to an article from Today, the little girl had tried different types of prosthetics throughout her life, but none of them has helped her to accomplish her biggest goal: to run.
But destiny has something different for her. One fine day, her mother Miranda Todd, who is a member of the online community Momastery, headed by author Glennon Doyle Melton, shared Ellie's story in the group.
Todd came across about an upcoming Love Flash Mob - Melton's online giving event designed to raise funds to help women and children through the group's non-profit organization Together Rising. Although Todd wasn't sure if it was meant to be adults, she decided to tell Ellie's story.
“When I saw a piece on Momastery asking people to write in about their 'sheros' - the women they admire, I wrote about Ellie, although I wasn't sure if it was meant to be just adults,” Todd said.
“I was actually floored when they contacted me. They asked how they could help Ellie and I told them I had been hoping to get her some running legs.”
Explaining Todd's situation and posting the emotional letter that she had submitted, Melton took to her blog.
“Here's the thing about my shero. She's four and she's my daughter,” Todd wrote. “A genetic disorder caused her legs to be amputated to her knees and her hands to look different, too. My wildest dream for Ellie is new legs. Ellie loves to run. All Ellie wants to do is run, but she is constantly left behind. I don't want my warrior baby left behind. The legs are incredibly expensive, though, so it's just out of the question. I can't give my baby what she needs the most.”
Melton then told readers that the Hanger Clinic, the prosthetic manufacturer that makes the running legs, had committed to working with 'Together Rising' to help.
In just 24 hours, Momastery readers raised the necessary funds allowing Ellie to get the running legs she had been wanting so badly.
Photo Courtesy: Miranda Todd
“When she put on the finished product, Ellie was thrilled,” Todd said. “She loves to bounce in them - we call them her bouncy shoes - and she took off running in the hallway right away and literally laughed the whole time.”
Melton also posted a video this week to the Momastery Facebook page, where it shows the little girl Ellie running in her new legs and allowing readers to see what their small donations,limited to a maximum of $25 per person, can do when a community comes together.
Momastery plans to hold its next 'Love Flash Mob' in September.
Source: Today.com
