Ellie Bishop

The full story of meningitis sufferer Ellie's triumph over adversity

When Ellie Bishop fell ill with meningitis in February last year, she was just 30 minutes from death.

After two weeks in intensive care, the only way doctors were able to save her was by amputating both her legs above the knee, her right arm up to the elbow and three fingers on her left hand.

"Before the operation, I gently told Ellie that the doctors needed to take her legs away to make her better," recalls mum Karen. "That's when she asked if she could see her legs.

'Up until then, I'd kept them covered with a sheet so that she couldn't see the blotchy, black skin. But when I peeled back the sheet, and Ellie saw her legs, she just said, "You'd better get the doctor and tell him to take them away."'

Coping bravely

Seven-year-old Ellie, from the Black Country, quickly learned to adjust to her new life and does everything that she can for herself.

'Her schoolwork is exceptional and she still loves to write and draw despite losing her left arm and three of the fingers on her other hand,' says Karen.

'And she never understands why anyone would feel sorry for her, and always tells people that they shouldn't.'

'She's been fantastic through all this,' adds proud dad Paul. 'Her lovely smile has never gone away.'