A LITTLE BOY born with a "very large" leg was diagnosed with a rare mutation that causes it to "grow uncontrollably". Axel Horgan, two, was diagnosed with a genetic condition called congenital lipomatous overgrowth (CLOVES) - which cause parts of the body to grow much more quickly than others. He is one of just 200 people in the world with the condition, which can cause a combination of vascular, skin, spinal, and bone or joint abnormalities.
Axel's left leg was "very large from birth" and has been growing ever since. His parents were told he'd likely not live past the age of two or three and never be able to walk, talk, go to the toilet, or eat. His parents, Eddie, 27, and Sarah, 27, a nurse, say their son has now "proved doctors wrong".
The tot has defied the odds to take his first steps . In January 2025, he'll have both feet amputated so he can live pain-free and he'll need to learn how to walk with two prosthetics in physiotherapy. Eddie, a laboratory technician, from Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, said: "When a child has a rare illness they face two battles.
"One is the illness itself and the other is living in a world where so few people understand what you're up against. "We were told to take him home and enjoy him - because he would only have two to three years to live. "The specialists decided on amputation as they said it would give him increased function and less pain.
"He's in a lot of pain daily and it is hoped to improve his quality of life." Sarah says her p.
