Picture of hope: How a 10-year-old girl fought back after losing all her limbs to meningitis

Danielle Skilbeck was just four-years-old when she lost both her legs and her hands - but now she is celebrating her 10th birthday with as much energy as every other little girl.

She amazed doctors by returning from the brink of death after suffering from meningitis and has even discovered a love of cartwheels and headstands.

Brave Danielle has been determined not the let her disability get in the way as she splashes about in the pool and dances to pop music just like her friends.

Danielle Skilbeck with mum Lindsey Pollard, is celebrating her 10th birthday against all the odds. She was just four when she had he legs and hand amputated

In 2002 the 10-year-old spent five months in hospital when her body was ravaged by the virus.

Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary had to make the heartbreaking decision to amputate her legs below the knee to save her life.



Even then Danielle, of Otley, West Yorkshire, had to go back into hospital where surgeons removed her knees and later, her hands.



Since then, she has amazed the medical profession, friends and her family with her brave battle against the disability.

Her mother Lindsay Pollard, 25, said: "The hardest thing to deal with was the fact that Danielle was so young, helping her to understand was a real challenge.

"As a little girl, she knew that your hair, your nails, even the grass, all grew back when you cut them.

"But making her understand the same wouldn't be happening with her legs was very difficult.

"Once she understood what was happening, the next thing we had to focus on was getting her generally moving again, because she was really sore all over."



Danielle at two-and-a-half (left) before she was struck down by meningitis and spent five months in hospital



Just a year later, Danielle was rolling around and doing handstands - making a triangle with her head and arms to keep stable

And by age six she was swimming confidently.

She said: "I like to swim. I like dancing to pop music and I like to do gym. I can do cartwheels, handstands, splits and hurdles and high jump."



Her mother added: "I'm a great believer that if you think you can't do something or youre not sure, you try.

"There's nothing really that she can't do because she adapts to everything.

"Swimming was a bit difficult to start with, but she's overcome it and done it and with everything, that's what Danielle's done.



"My job is to encourage her to keep on. Brave Danielle was presented with a Child of Courage award in 2004 and met then Prime Minister Tony Blair before the ceremony in London.

Danielle does not let her disability get in the way and spends her days doing cartwheels and handstands

Next week surgeons at Leeds General Infirmary will trim her leg bone growth and tidy up her scar tissue in another major operation.

"I've had quite a few operations, I cant remember how many, its loads," said Danielle.



"I am a bit scared but I'll be all right."

Although the schoolgirl wears prosthetic legs, she finds it easier to remove them for her favourite activities.

Lindsay, who has five daughters and two stepsons with partner Trevor, said: "Her legs get thrown down with her schoolbag when she comes in.



"She uses both arms to tackle tasks like writing, and younger sister Tia helps out if shes struggling with fiddly jobs like putting toothpaste on her toothbrush."

Lindsay said Danielle could decide when she is older whether she wanted surgery on her hands but added: "I hope she realises that she can do so much now."