Time for CHEER

Liz Webb, 44, from Hartlepool, found a way of giving her daughter a leg up

Stroking my baby bump and looking at the monitor, I was over the moon to find out I was having a little girl.

My husband David, 47, and I already had two children – Ashleigh, then 14, and David, five – so this little one would complete our family.

Just then, the sonographer frowned at the monitor. ‘Is something wrong?’ I asked. ‘Your daughter is missing a lower leg,’ she explained.

Doctors suggested that the amniotic band might have wrapped around her leg, cutting cells off before they could fully develop.

David and I were devastated, of course, but seven weeks later, Neisha was born weighing 2lb 1oz, and she was perfect – limbs or no limbs.

At eight months, she had her first prosthetic leg fitted, and at 18 months, she took her first steps. She was meeting all her milestones, but when she started school, she found it difficult.

She was always the first to be caught in running games and when it came to sports days, she always came last.

But she remained positive through it all, never failing to take part in things. ‘You’ll be a Paralympian one day!’ I smiled.

At age nine, Neisha became less interested in sports and more interested in being on the side lines – as a cheerleader.

She loved watching Youtube videos of

cheerleading squads doing kicks, jumps and spins – everything she couldn’t do.

Then, in March 2016, the government announced it was releasing £1.5 million to pay for prosthetic blades for children.

I had to apply – this was something that would change Neisha’s life.

She didn’t have the flexibility in her ankle to run fast, let alone cheerlead, but a blade would provide that vital spring.

We filled out the forms, and eventually we were chosen.

And it wasn’t long before Neisha went for a fitting, picking the colours of her blade – black

and pink.

That June, her super-leg was finally ready.

‘How does that feel?’ asked the doctor, fitting the blade on.

‘Why don’t you have a little walk?’

But before he could finish his sentence, Neisha was sprinting down the hospital corridor!

Within days, she was copying all those cheerleading moves she’d watched online – cartwheels, handstands, and spread-eagle jumps. I couldn’t believe it! ‘Why don’t you join a club?’ I suggested.

Still getting used to her new leg, Neisha was shy at first, but two years later, she went to a class with the Hartlepool Hawks.

She’s now a ‘flyer’ and does stunts with the para-cheer team, which has other disabled members.

Now 12, Neisha will soon be travelling around Europe representing the

in competitions. She really has come on

leaps and bounds!