The Girl with the Rainbow Legs

Three-year-old Adalee from Victoria, Texas, has a smile that can light up any room.

She is talkative, energetic and always ready for her next adventure. Behind her bubbly personality is a remarkable story of resilience.

Adalee was born with bilateral fibular hemimelia, a rare condition where the fibula bone in each leg is either missing or underdeveloped. One of her feet was a congenital amputation, and the other was not formed well enough to support bracing.

When Adalee’s previous doctor left another children’s hospital, her family struggled to find timely care. Shriners Children’s Texas staff was able to see her right away, giving her the support she needed without delay. Adalee’s family was very impressed with her new doctor, pediatric orthopedic surgeon Cody Sanderson, M.D.

“Fibular hemimelia is rare, and having it in both legs is even more uncommon,” said Dr. Sanderson. “We considered reconstructive surgery, but in Adalee’s case, it would have meant multiple operations and long recoveries. The family ultimately chose amputation and prosthetics, and they are very happy with that decision.”

That choice gave Adalee something every child deserves: the ability to move freely and live without limits.

“Now she is in bilateral prosthetics, running around and being a kid,” Dr. Sanderson said. “Instead of spending time in the hospital, she is out there playing, going to school and dressing up for Halloween. Less pain, more mobility and an excellent prognosis.”