Five-Year Old Girl Survives Meningitis

A five-year old girl who survived meningitis is able to celebrate Christmas and ride a tricycle for the first time, the Daily Mail reports.

Charlotte Nott rides the tricycle she found under the Christmas tree with a sheer delight on her face. Almost three years ago, the little girl beat the odds and survived meningitis. However, doctors had to amputate both her arms and legs during her fight for life. After her amputation, it became evident to her parents, Jenny, 32 and Alex, 32 that their daughter will be unable to ride a back for the rest of her life. "Charlotte had never had a proper bike of her own before she became ill. But she'd fallen in love with cycling after being given a little tricycle by her cousin. She used to spend hours on it, pedaling for miles and miles."

"Before Christmas we took her on a shopping trip and she set her heart on a little bike she spotted in one of the shops. It was lovely - blue with yellow flowers and bees on it. As soon as she got on it she was zooming off all over the shop. She loved it so much we couldn't get her to leave. In the end we had to carry her out kicking and screaming. Alex and I bought it secretly and couldn't wait to give it to her. We were probably more excited than her that year," said Jenny. "But we didn't get the chance because Charlotte was rushed to the hospital and she didn't come out again until January," she added.

Two weeks before Christmas day 2011, Jenny discovered purple marks associated with the infection on Charlotte's chest and she was rushed to nearby John Radcliffe hospital. Within hours, Charlotte suffered from multiple organ failure and doctors fought to save her life.