Highlands kindergartner feels unstoppable with new prosthetic

Tawnya Panizzi | Monday, January 3, 2022 6:01 a.m.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Kindergartner Annabel Grant (middle) plays with a bounce toy among classmates Dec. 23 in Highlands Early Education Center’s multipurpose room. Annabel, who was born without a fibula in her lower right leg, had her foot amputated in July and recently received a prosthetic.

Highlands kindergartner Annabel Grant received a rousing round of applause when she walked into school recently.

Teachers and students lined the hallways of the district’s Early Childhood Center, hooting and hollering while the 5-year-old made her way to class.

It was Annabel’s first day back in school with her new foot.

“I like my prossie so much!” Annabel said, referring to her new prosthetic foot.

The daughter of Amy and Tommy Grant of Natrona Heights, Annabel was born with fibular hemimelia — the absence of a fibula — in her lower right leg.

Fibular hemimelia occurs in about one in every 50,000 births.

Annabel underwent surgery in July at Cleveland Clinic when her leg’s remaining bones could no longer support enough weight to allow her to stand.

“I like running around,” said Annabel, who underwent seven weeks of physical therapy to learn to maneuver comfortably with her prosthetic.

Amy Grant said Annabel was able, for a long time, to play and run with help from splints.

Amputation of her right foot always was expected, Grant said, and Annabel used a wheelchair for four months after the surgery — but only to travel distances.

Spunky and determined, Annabel put weight on her leg after the amputation as soon as she got the doctor’s approval. At school, she crawled in and out of her wheelchair to play with friends at recess or sit on the classroom floor for group activities.

Now, with her prosthetic, there’s virtually no stopping her.

“She has adjusted great and is wearing her new foot to school daily,” Grant said. “As soon as doctors tried it on her, she wanted to get up and go.”

She now wears it all day and can fully participate in school activities, including gym and recess.

Teacher Krista Yount said it took Annabel no time to adjust at school.

“At first, she felt more comfortable holding my hand to get around the building,” Yount said. “Now, she is practically running down the hallways with little assistance.”

In the classroom, Annabel moves with ease during transition times and during breaks, Yount said.

“She is able to enjoy joining her classmates on the jungle gym during recess and can run around and play tag with no limitations.”

Annabel has the ability to take her prosthetic on and off as needed. For example, she doesn’t sleep in it, Grant said.

Physicians are able to adjust the length for now, but she will get a new prosthetic as she grows.

Annabel talks freely about her new foot to curious classmates who are eager to help her relearn old skills.

They’ve been trying to teach her how to do cartwheels at recess.

“Whenever she has the chance to move around, she hits the ground running,” Yount said. “This girl is unstoppable.”