Six-year-old with disability becomes confident basketballer

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 10 Oct, 23:24 · Archive

Lilly Box, born without a tibia and fibula, has become a confident basketballer after early struggles with her disability.

Lilly Box was born with significant congenital limb differences, lacking a tibia and having a shortened fibula and eight toes on one foot. She underwent her first leg amputation at twelve months old and a second amputation just before her second birthday after her bone broke through her growth plate.

In her early years, Lilly struggled emotionally with her disability. When she was three, she began asking her grandmother, Mardie Box, who has raised her full-time since she was eighteen months old, why she was different and why she did not have two legs. The little girl would insist on wearing floor-length dresses to cover her prosthetic, fearful that people at the playground were staring at her.

Lilly has since transformed into a confident basketballer with support from Telethon. Her grandmother remembers the second amputation as ultimately positive, noting that Lilly's pain disappeared after the procedure, and she became visibly more comfortable in her own skin.

How it is being reported

• Once embarrassed by her disability, Lilly Box, 6, ‘transformed’ into confident basketballer thanks to TelethonWhen Lilly was three years old, she began asking her grandmother the kind of questions that break a heart in two.The West Australian · 10 Oct, 23:00
• Once embarrassed by her disability, Lilly Box, 6, ‘transformed’ into confident basketballer thanks to TelethonWhen Lilly was three years old, she began asking her grandmother the kind of questions that break a heart in two.Perth Now · 10 Oct, 23:00

In this story: Lilly Box · Mardie Box · Telethon · Perth

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