Determined Highlands kindergartner says, 'They cut off my foot. And I’m getting a new one!'

Highlands kindergartner Annabel Grant isn’t shy when classmates ask why she uses a wheelchair.

“They cut off my foot,” the 5-year-old says bluntly. “And I’m getting a new one!”

Born with fibular hemimelia — the absence of a fibula bone — in her lower right leg, Annabel doesn’t appear to let it slow her down.

At school, she crawls in and out of her wheelchair easily, whether it’s to sit on the floor for circle time or sail on the swings at recess.

“Annabel has zero limitations when she is in class and finds ways to work that are comfortable to her,” teacher Krista Yount said. “Even on the playground, she enjoys wheeling around and playing tag with her peers.

“There is no doubt that Annabel can do anything she sets her mind to.”

Annabel is the daughter of Amy and Tommy Grant of Natrona Heights, Harrison. Amy was born and raised in the area and works at Blackburn’s Pharmacy in Tarentum, while Tommy works for the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service.

Their daughter underwent surgery at Cleveland Clinic in July. Doctors amputated her right foot after her leg’s remaining bones could no longer support enough weight to help her stand.

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

“Annabel was born with two legs and two feet, and for a long time, she played and ran around,” her mom said. “She wore splints on both feet but mostly to give them support. She even played soccer.”

Amy Grant said the amputation was expected.

“Her bone doesn’t grow the whole way down, so as she got older, it would collapse under her because the bone wasn’t there to make her stable,” she said. “The good news is that solutions are available.”

While Annabel can’t quite pronounce “prosthetic,” she’ll easily tell you that she’s having surgery and soon will be able to walk again without help.

“She’s pretty determined,” Amy Grant said. “Once the doctors said she could put weight on it after her surgery, she pretty much decided that she was done with the wheelchair. She hardly uses it at home.”

At school, too, Annabel seems to get around pretty well.

She is navigating the newfound independence of spending her days away from home without much assistance, school leaders said.

“We were so concerned at first and treated her with kid gloves,” said Jo Welter, interim principal at the district’s Early Childhood Center. “When I spoke with her mom at open house, she said Annabel wasn’t happy because we were babying her.”

There are times, Yount said, when classmates ask Annabel about her leg or her wheelchair.

Her situation provides lessons on empathy and determination, Yount said.

“I let (students) know that she had to get surgery,” Yount said. “And then Annabel always quickly adds, ‘Yeah, and pretty soon I’m getting my new foot!’ ”

Welter believes Annabel serves as an inspiration.

“It’s a constant reminder to all of us that we need to persevere and work hard, regardless of our challenges,” she said.

“She’s a rock star in my eyes.”