Harrow baby born with no legs and one arm shows amazing progress

Little Henry Higgs, now aged 11 months, has shown his bubbly personality over recent months, with him splashing in the bath and reaching out to touch his toys.

His mother Rosie Higgs, a special needs school care assistant from Harrow, had been told her unborn son might have amniotic band syndrome – a condition which could stop his limbs from growing properly – at her routine 20-week scan.

But despite the news, she insisted she had “no doubt” to keep her baby boy.

When Henry was born in Northwick Park Hospital on May 13, he had just one arm and a webbed hand, but weighing a healthy 8lb 2oz.

Rosie Higgs with her son Henry (Photo: SWNS)

His mother said: "When I was told my baby would only have one arm - and no legs - I was so worried and upset.

"But there was no doubt in my mind that I was keeping him - no matter what I was advised."

During the pregnancy process, she was mainly distracted at work but after she admitted she kept “overthinking” things in fear that something could go wrong.

And due to lockdown restrictions that were in place at the time, she could not have her mother Paula and partner Peter by her side during the scans – which made the process harder.

And while she called it “heart-breaking” to not have her loved ones during the key moments, she praised the midwives for being “incredible”.

Henry Higgs was born with no legs and one arm (Photo: SWNS)

Following his birth, she has nothing but praise for Henry. She said: "But he is such a happy chap and doesn't let his disability hold him back in any way.

"He’s got a cheeky smile and he’s always laughing. He loves his big sister.

"He might not have all of his arms and legs, but he's absolutely perfect to me."

The midwives took Henry to one side and dad Peter, an Emirates facilities and seating supervisor, went over to see him first.

He picked little Henry up and brought him over to the mother and placed him in her arms.

"As he passed me my little boy I fell in love,” she said.

And despite his differences, his seven-year-old brother Michael and his sister Alice, aged 13, didn’t bat an eyelid and they all get along.

She said: “Michael, my son, is autistic so he doesn’t give Henry as much attention as Alice, but they love him.

"Alice treats him like her own baby - rather than her brother. She loves him so much. She's his second mum."

Henry is hitting all the milestones he should be - he's able to lift objects up, lift his head up and roll over.

Part of this is thanks to an operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital that separated his webbed hand. There are also talks with Stanmore Orthopedics to get further help from them.

'Happy chap' Henry (Photo: SWNS)

Rosie said: "He's able to pick things up without any problems which is really surprising. He's progressing really well.

"He's babbling all the time like he's talking to you. It's like he's replying. He wakes me up in the morning with his babbling.

"But he is amazingly well-behaved- he goes down at 7.30pm and wakes up at 6.30am.

"Henry is happy, he loves sitting up in his highchair, but we have to be careful.

"He's not able to use a babywalker because it wouldn't be safe for him because he doesn't have his bottom limbs."

Since Henry’s birth, the family has received support from Reach - a charity which helps children with upper limb differences.