North York toddler received early Christmas gift - a pair of new legs with gray colored running shoes. Ethan lost his legs after he was diagnosed with Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), a dangerous bacterial infection which can be fatal in July 2015. Today, the toddler continues to inspire many young kids through a storybook inspired by his story.
On July 24, 2015, Ethan Faria was rushed to North York General Hospital after he developed a fever and slight cough. Later on, his arms and legs became purple, and his fingers began to turn. The toddler was then transferred to an ambulance to Hospital for Sick Children.
In the Hospital for Sick Children, Ethan's parents, Humberto and Rachel, were advised by doctors that their child might not make it. Though devastated by the news, the parents remained high for their child.
Three days after running series of tests, Ethan was found out with Haemophilus influenza (Hi) type B, a sickness triggered by a bacterial infection. Normally this disease is minor, but critical infection can happen when the bacteria spread all over the body, including brain and bloodstream. For Ethan's case, it led to skin necrosis and dispersed intravascular clotting which is a condition where blood clots start up in the tiny blood vessels of the body, cutting off the blood supply to body organs.
Ethan's legs were cut off just under the knees. Soon afterward, doctors cut off his right hand and removed some of his fingers. After ten weeks stay in the Hospital for Sick Children, Ethan was discharged from the hospital in October 2015. He underwent therapy and rehabilitation. On his three months of treatment, the toddler got his "magic legs" which is a pair of prosthetic legs with running shoes.
Ethan will still require years of rehabilitation and therapy, and he needs to learn how to utilize prosthetics legs. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the toddler and his loved ones raised over $101,000 globally; the Global News has learned.
Now as part of the crowdfunding campaign, Wire Publishing, and Kari Ward have united and published a storybook inspired by the story of Ethan. The book was titled, "Marley & Maverick Find Ethan's Magic Legs."
"I think it's like a resourceful book for other children who have lost a limb," CBCNews quoted Rachel Faria as saying. "It just gives a lot of hope," she added
