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A toddler walked with prosthetics for the first time in an adorable video, after his parents made the agonizing decision to amputate his legs.
Louie Brown, from Columbus, Ohio, was born without bones in both legs, meaning there was no hope he could walk, his fingers and thumbs were also fused together.
Doctors gave his parents, Emmy Brown, 29, and Justin Brown, 27, the choice of amputating both Louie’s legs at the knee or saving them by undergoing “excruciating” reconstructive surgery every few years. his life.
After discussing their options with other parents of amputees, they made the difficult decision to remove both of the little boy’s legs, and the surgery took place when Louie was 11 months old.
Last month, stay-at-home mom Emmy and structural engineer Justin reached out to a charity that provides free prosthetics to children, and heartwarming images show Louie adjusting to his new, custom-made legs.
The video shows how fast Louie is progressing, and Emmy says that he can run as fast as other kids his age.
Emmy said: “He was so excited the first time he saw the legs.” She thought he was so cool when they bowed down.
Louie Brown, from Columbus, Ohio, walked with prosthetics for the first time in an adorable video, after his parents made the agonizing decision to amputate his legs.
He was born with no bones in both legs, meaning there was no hope he would be able to walk, so his parents made the agonizing decision to amputate both legs above the knee.
Parents Emmy Brown, 29, and Justin Brown, 27, with their adopted children Tay, 12, Jojo, five, and baby Louie.
Emmy and Justin shined for a sweet snap with Louie right after he was delivered via C-section
Louie was born with no bones in both legs meaning there was no hope he could walk, his fingers and thumbs were also fused together.
‘The video of him walking is unbelievable, I am overcome with tears of joy. He keeps up with his peers and when he doesn’t have a prosthesis, he keeps up with them on his nubs.
“When he was born, he was missing the shins of his legs and his fingers were missing. She has a fused thumb and index finger.
“We connected with amputee families and they said without the tibia we should amputate and get prosthetics because they are making progress every day.
The doctors said maybe they could save her legs and give her lifelong reconstructive surgery, but that would be horrible.
It would be unbearable for him and he would have to undergo many surgeries. They couldn’t guarantee that he had good mobility.
Louie was born without the tibia in his legs and missing digits on his hands, he also has a fused thumb and index finger.
After discussing their options with other parents of amputees, they made the difficult decision to remove both of the baby’s legs, and the surgery took place when Louie was 11 months old.
Dad Justin was photographed kissing Louie’s feet before going into surgery to have his legs amputated.
‘It was horrible to make that decision. We still have moments today where we say we can’t believe we had to make that decision, but we see him running with his prosthetics and we know it was worth it.
She would have already had one or two surgeries to reconstruct her legs. She would be in pain and could not walk well. We’re sad that she had to go through it, but we look at it well and it was worth it.”
The couple were desperate for a child and were in the process of adopting children Tay, 12, and Jojo, 5, when Emmy became pregnant with Louie.
Louie will need a new set of prosthetics every two to three years as he continues to grow, and thanks to his new legs, Louie will be able to play sports, run and swim with his friends.
Emmy said she was so excited when she first saw the prospect’s legs, saying she thought they were “so cool when they folded.”
After the parents contacted a charity that provides free prostheses to children, Louie was fitted with new custom-made legs.
Louie loved his new prosthetic legs that even came with an adorable cartoon kid’s design.
She says they were over the moon and had the most “ideal” pregnancy until week 20 when doctors discovered some “physical abnormalities” that could prove fatal to the baby.
Emmy said: “We had no inclination that anything was wrong and it was the most ideal 20 weeks of our lives.” We were so excited, it was amazing.
“On the scan, his legs looked very small for his body and were crossed and tucked under him.
They said it could be fatal and she might not survive the pregnancy. We were devastated. It was horrible, one of the worst moments of my life.
“We were hoping and praying that it was not fatal and that we would be able to help him. They ruled out that it was fatal but they could not tell us anything about their quality of life. His organs were growing well and he would go to term.
“We were happy with that news even though we were devastated. We try to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
“I think about those times when we thought maybe she wouldn’t make it through the pregnancy and now she’s two and a half years old.”
Louie will need a new set of prosthetics every two to three years as he continues to grow, and thanks to his new legs, Louie will be able to play sports, run and swim with his friends.
Emmy said: ‘It’s given him the ability to run. He is so energetic and is always on the go. When they operated on him, they told us not to let him run on his bumps, but we had to hold him down. It’s so sturdy, it’s great.