STREP-A survivor Mandy McCracken is finally on her feet again. You can’t wipe the smile off the face of this feisty mother-of-three, thanks to her new prosthetic “pirate legs”.

Ms McCracken’s lower legs and arms were amputated after she contracted a deadly streptococcal infection — group A last August.

After months confined to a hospital bed, she received new arms earlier this year, enabling her to get around in a wheelchair.

Now she has just begun taking her first tentative steps on her new silicone, wood and metal legs.

“It feels incredible to be free and mobile again,” she said. “Having new hands has made a huge difference, but my legs will really bring my old self back.

media_camera Mandy McCracken back in rehab learning to walk on prosthetic legs and using her prosthetic hands for the first time at Royal Park Rehab Centre. Picture: David Caird.

“Being eye-to-eye with everyone will be great and I will fully feel part of everything again,” she said.

After a precious two-month stint at home in Kilmore East with her husband Rod and three young daughters, Ms McCracken returned to the Royal Melbourne Hospital about four weeks ago to learn how to walk.

“At first they put me on a tilt table so I was upright but not bearing my weight, and I laughed and laughed until I cried because it was so amazing,” she said.

media_camera Mandy McCracken after losing her lower legs and arms. Photo David Caird

Ms McCracken is due to go home for good in a week or so, although she will continue rehab for some time yet.

“I am most looking forward to getting in and out of a car without help,” Ms McCracken said.

“I want to be able to go with the girls to netball, and stand up among my friends and chat with them all without having to look up at everyone”.

Royal Melbourne Hospital prosthetist Alana Stonehouse said Ms McCracken was making terrific progress.

“We had to wait while her knees healed, but now it is all going really well,” she said.

“She is very motivated to walk independently although it will take up a lot of energy”.

“We are all really proud of her progress,” Ms Stonehouse said.