MEET Max, an 11-year-old who had his right leg amputated at seven weeks old who has now had all his sporting dreams come true after joining the England Amputee Junior Football squad.
Max Lamb from Rainford was only seven weeks old when his proud parents Chris and Rachel were told that his leg had to be amputated as the amniotic band cut off blood supply to his leg in the womb.
Max, who walks with crutches or using a prosthetic is a huge sports fan, and always thought team sport was something he couldn’t be part of.
But then he heard about Amputee football and the rest is history.
His dad Chris Lamb, 46, said: “Max loves sports but due to his limb difference it’s something he struggles to be part of in a conventional team.
“He said something to Rachel about never being able to play football and then we got a message from the England Amputee team saying they have these camps and would Max like to be part of it.
“To say he was excited would be an understatement.
“Max is the only one in his school who has a limb difference, it’s something he stands out for, but with the players in the amputee team they are all in the same boat, some have lost limbs through accident, some heartbreaking stories, but on the pitch, they are all on the same team.
“He absolutely loves it, the confidence this has given him is incredible and it’s so much harder than normal football and they have to have rules for the crutches, which is essentially treated as a handball.”
Chris ad Rachel, 40, who also have seven-year-old Niamh, were told about the issue with Max’s leg when she was 20 weeks pregnant as loose bands of tissue in Rachel's womb had become wrapped around Max's right leg, preventing it from developing normally.
Speaking about that time Chris, who is known in the area for Chocolate Orange Friday, a day in which he collects thousands of Terry’s Chocolate Oranges for NHS and care worker staff across the nation in memory of his eldest son Elliott who died of a rare condition, said: “Max has known no different, but for us sending him into theatre so tiny and coming back with one leg was heartbreaking.
“He is fantastic and we are so proud of him, it’s a regular thing he has to be seen over, having the bone shaved down and plates in to prevent it growing differently, but he is a star.
“He’s got quite the collection of prosthetics now and a blade and doesn’t suffer from phantom limb pain as he’s never known having a leg.
"Apparently, Limb Power, a charity which supports amputees and their families, said Max was the youngest amputee they had heard of in the country which is mad isn’t it.
“I’m just so glad he found amputee football. It’s incredible for him”
All the amputees play on crutches, without their prosthetic legs, apart from the goalkeeper. Max plays in midfield.
To sponsor the team, go to bit.ly/amputeefootball
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