A FORMER Hereford Child of Courage who won a life and death fight against meningitis is at war with the disease again.

And Darren Hodges of Fownhope has once more topped the list for bravery in coping with major surgery to correct damage to his body caused by the disease.

Darren, aged 10 at the end of the month, lost part of his right leg and toes on the left one when he was struck down with virulent meningococcal meningitis weeks before his second birthday.

It was the price he paid for his life, winning against all the odds in a valiant fight in Hereford County Hospital.

The youngster won the hearts of many local people with the courage he displayed after his amputation, more surgery and skin grafts and fittings for an artificial leg and he was invited to switch on Hereford's Christmas lights.

It was earlier this year that Darren's parents Denise and Andrew realised that his 'good' leg was starting to turn in.

Resulting x-rays showed that the meningitis responsible for ravaging his tiny body eight years before had also attacked the bones in his leg with one not growing, pulling another one inwards.

During the summer holidays Darren went to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham for surgeons to put screws in his ankle and staples in the top of his leg and confine him to plaster.

Tomorrow, 12 weeks later, the boy with the cheeky smile will return to hospital for his progress to be assessed.

He is hoping that he can dispense with his plaster and wheelchair and walk on his two legs again in time for his 10th birthday on November 24.

Darren desperately wants a scooter as a present, with no doubts that he will be able to master its technique.

He has always shown a remarkable ability to cope with the serious aftermath of meningitis.

Within weeks of his amputation he was crawling round his home, walking immediately his artificial limb was fitted and playing football before a year was out.

He broke his good leg while kicking the ball but was soon scooting around on all fours again.

More surgery

In between Darren has been through a multitude of fittings for his artificial limb to match his growth and experienced more surgery when the bones in his amputated limb began to push through the stump.

But his mother Denise says he never complains. He is now coping with school in a wheelchair and rushes around the house on his haunches, easily keeping up with his younger brother Jamie, aged seven and sister Chelsea, four.

Next week he hopes to be walking again, the latest chapter of his troubles behind him.

Denise admits there has been much heartache for the family over the years but that Darren's own fortitude and attitude to life has put this into perspective.

The budding 10 year old knows that some avenues will be closed to him but is thinking that he would like a career as a TV presenter, having a reputation as a wit in mimicking TV adverts.

The Hodges family have overcome any problems in supporting Darren and making his life as normal as possible.

But Denise is critical of the fact that although Darren is disabled his own determination in coping with his disabilities has led the authorities to deny him any financial grant and that she has been unable to obtain a car badge for her car to make hospital visits for her son less difficult.