Dedicated 10-year-old Titans fan Michael Heynatz thought it was special enough having his new prosthetic legs made in Titans colours and the logo prominent, but they became more special when they had the autographs of his favourite iSelect Gold Coast Titans players, Greg Bird and Nate Myles, added yesterday.
Michael was a welcomed visitor to training at Cbus Super Stadium with his mother Carmen Munday and was able to meet several of his Titans heroes, including Dave Taylor, Ryan James and Matt White, who took time out to check out Michael’s new legs which were acquired through the assistance of the Violet Foundation.
The little Titans supporter had both his legs amputated below the knees when he was just 10 months old after contracting meningococcal disease, and has had further surgery since which now sees him needing to use full length prosthetic legs.
The new ones can bend at the knees, enabling him better mobility and he proudly showed them off to the Titans players who were taken by his big smile.
The Violet Foundation supports those who have suffered from meningococcal; named thus because the purple colour of the violet flower is similar to the colour of the rash that appears on many people that have contracted the terrible disease.
Co-skipper Nate Myles drew a laugh from Michael and Carmen (and his team-mates) when he quipped: “Nice legs Michael … and I haven’t said that to a bloke before!”
