A Santa Rosa girl who lost her prosthetic legs in the North Bay wildfires received an amazing gift Wednesday: new legs.
Lilly Biagini's family was forced to quickly flee their home in the middle of the night as a fast-spreading wildfire was about to devour their neighborhood — leaving behind, among other things, the 9-year-old’s prosthetic legs.
"[It's] very sad because everything is gone," Lilly said after seeing a photograph of her devastated neighborhood.
With Lilly's prosthetic legs gone and her mother Jessica without the finances to replace them or health insurance to cover the cost, things were looking beyond bleak.
"It was absolutely heartbreaking," Jessica said. "A piece of her body was taken away, and it's burned, and I can't bring it back."
Jessica said Lilly has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a rare muscluar condition that left her with reduced mobility in her joints and dislocated hips. A few years ago, she had her legs voluntarily amputated above the knee to allow for mobility and independence.
Now there's a glimmer of hope.
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Hanger Clinic, which specializes in orthotic and prosthetic services, partnered with manufacturers to provide Lilly with a new pair of legs — free of charge.
On Wednesday, Lilly was at Hanger Clinic getting casts made for new legs.
"They’ve lost absolutely all they had," said clinic manager Pola O'Rourke. "If we can get her back on her feet ASAP and make her life simpler, it’s the absolute least that we can do."
Soon Lilly, who likes to swim, ride horses and run, will be back at it.
"For them to do this for us is just amazing," Jessica said.
