Jordan's first steps

But Jordan Whitewood-Neal is already proving his doctors wrong.

Less than a month after major surgery to amputate his right leg above the knee, the 14 year old pupil from Bexhill High took the first steps toward a new stage in his young life.

His mum Tracey told how Jordan, who suffers from Proteus Syndrome, is progressing as he undergoes physiotherapy to build up his strength at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Middlesex and get ready for his new prosthetic limb.

She commented on Tuesday: "He did really well last week - he was up and walking.

"He felt bad yesterday at night, but generally they are very pleased with what he is doing. They thought he would find it difficult to even stand, but he is walking and doing really good."

Jordan has been trying out a test prototype limb and will prepare for the real thing next week which will have a knee joint and be just the right height for him.

Tracey added: "He first stood up and walked last Tuesday. It was quite emotional watching him, I must admit.

"He has been measured and he is now 6ft 2on - he is incredibly tall. He is doing really well but he did have phantom pains on Monday...We got him all the painkillers and fortunately he settled down and went to sleep."

Jordan has spent some time at home in Watermill Close - with Tracey, dad Dean and little brother Kai - following the operation, and even visited his classmates to let them know how he is getting on. He hopes to be back at school in November.

Meanwhile he is keeping up with his studies as he does not want to fall behind. He recently celebrated passing his GCSE English and Statistics two years early.

He is trying to get his schoolwork done in between physio sessions at hospital and is getting on with an art project - Tracey and her mother have been helping with finding items for him to draw and paint.

Tracey said: "The staff at the Royal National Orthopaedic hospital have been fantastic '“ very helpful and supportive, and I would like to thank them all '“ the doctors, nurses, physios, teachers, play specialists and everyone involved in Jordan's care."

The immediate future is for Jordan to get stronger and become used to standing for longer periods of time, and for the fit of the prosthetic limb to be made perfect for him.

Tracey added: "I am very relieved he has got through the actual operation itself - there were a lot of risks. But things went really well and I am very proud of what he has done. He is very determined, and I am very proud of him."