Levana Hanson
Despite losing her legs to meningitis as a baby, Levana Hanson, now eight, refuses to let her disability hold her back. She has endured more than 40 operations, has learned to walk on prosthetic legs and has even used her karate skills to fundraise for others affected by meningitis.
Yet Levana faces every challenge with her trademark smile and cheeky sense of humour, telling people, "The reason I don't have legs is because I'm special." In fact, the Meningitis Trust were so struck by her positive spirit, they asked her to star in a short film which is screened at fundraising and training events. Levana's mum Glenda first noticed something was wrong when she found her, at the age of two months, listless and floppy in her cot. Her entire lower body and arms were covered in a purple rash.
By the time Glenda and Levana's dad Mark had rushed her to hospital, her legs and arms had turned black, a sign of deadly septicaemia. "Doctors said there was no hope," says Glenda, 44, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. "They were certain she'd die."
For the next fortnight, Levana remained in a drug-induced coma, clinging to life. When she eventually woke, it was clear her legs could not be saved. Both were amputated below the knee when she was three months old.
Despite her ordeal, she learned to walk on prosthetic legs soon after her first birthday. At five, she was able to swim. "Her bubbly nature hides her daily pain," says Glenda. "Whenever her stumps are operated on, she's left temporarily wheelchair bound. But she's never once complained and even lets her schoolfriends race her around in her chair."
Sadly, last year, she became the victim of bullying when she was picked on and pushed to the ground by children she didn't know. To boost her confidence, Glenda enrolled her in karate lessons. Although she initially struggled to lift her heavy prosthetic legs, Levana quickly mastered the moves and progressed to an orange belt.She even took part in a sponsored 'kickathon', organised by her coach, Richard Angell.
"It hurt my legs, but I was really proud to have done 100 kicks," says Levana. Despite her discomfort, the event raised £400 for the Meningitis Trust, as well as raising funds for Children In Need. "She copes fantastically well," says Richard. "It's amazing. There will be the odd move that she finds difficult, but she'll still give it a go. She's just that sort of person."
Now Levana has set her sights on joining a disabled swimming team. "She faces every challenge with a smile," says Glenda. "My heart swells with everything she's achieved."