Little miracle Cieran gets back on his feet

The tot, of Navigation Road, who was 16-months when the attack happened in June 2006, had both legs amputated below the knee after suffering from a severe form of meningitis.

He also lost two fingers and parts of all his remaining fingers.

Now the lively two-year-old has been fitted with prosthetic limbs and has led a sponsored walk with parents Gary and Sara and his friends from Hobson's Day Nursery in Castle to raise money for the Meningitis Trust.

Hear and see more about the fundraising effort by clicking on the links below.

Gary recalled the day he was fitted with the limbs.

He said: "He looked like a drunken puppet. It took him a couple of weeks and he hasn't stopped since.

"He is doing everything now, even climbing onto tables.

"It is amazing how adaptable kids are."

It is a far cry from the moment Sara, 23, and Gary, 30, were told their only child would die within three hours.

The couple's nightmare began in June when the youngster became pale and sweaty and a doctor suggested they take him to Leighton Hospital.

Doctors decided to keep him in overnight for observation.

At 3.30am Sara awoke to find Cieran having convulsions and his temperature had risen to 42.5 degrees centigrade.

Doctors managed to resuscitate the boy but still could not decide what was wrong.

Sara, said: "They said his blood vessels were like hose pipes with holes in them.

"They said he would be lucky to live for the next three hours."

Gary said: "It's your worst nightmare. To see your only child being happy and toddling - he had only been walking for three weeks - and then told there were only three hours left was devastating."

Although he is facing another 16 years of operations as he outgrows the limbs, the couple are optimistic about the future.

Sara said: "I feel far more confident than I did."

Gary added: "We just want to thank everyone for their continued support, especially family, friends and the nursery."

Click here to listen to a clip of Cieran's father