After four years of hopping on one leg, five-year-old Princess Dede Darko now has a prosthetic replacement.

This follows a JoyNews report on a birth defect which caused her right leg to hang. She was always carried to school.

But with the intervention of the Brother Tacicious Prosthetics and Orthotics College at Nsawam, Miss Darko now moves about and can go to school unassisted.

Her cousin Peace who would normally strap her at her back to and from school daily broke down in tears of joy while expressing her appreciation to JoyNews’ Emefa Atiamoah-Eli.

She said it was a great relief to her to see Princess walk all by herself now.

"I’m so happy and grateful to you. My chest and back used to hurt a lot anytime I had to strap her to and from school. I sometimes stop and rest briefly before we continue our journey.

"I am always tired. I’m happy she can walk on her own now, it’s a lot of relief. God bless you," she said.

The process of acquiring an artificial leg for the girl started a month ago. The JoyNews story barely ended airing on TV when help began pouring in for Miss Darko.

The most touching part was when age mate Delaidem of Dansoman gave up all her savings towards her 6th birthday for Miss Darko's new leg. Then came the specialist in artificial leg construction at Nsawam offering to replace the leg free of charge.

After two weeks of initial assessment, Miss Darko began learning to use her new leg at the Brother Tacicious Prosthetics and Orthotics Training College on her third visit to the facility, that was on March 10.

A week later, the news team visited Miss Darko and she had adjusted tremendously to the artificial leg. She accepted to buy sachet water for her mother, unassisted, to demonstrate her independence.

Her mother, Georgina Darko was overwhelmed with joy and appreciation to the team of doctors, donors and JoyNews for coming to the aid of her daughter.

She told Emefa, "I am grateful to everyone has supported us, especially JoyNews and the Doctors at Nsawam, God bless everyone and reward greatly.’’

The Salvation Army Community Based Rehabilitation Centre at Agona Duakwa is next in giving mother and daughter educational scholarship and Economic support respectively.

Among the donors were politicians and the Crystal Mining Consult, which donated ¢5,000 towards Miss Darko's leg replacement.

A new day, a new hope; Princess will certainly not forget this turning point in her life as she grows.

Any day she tells her story, she certainly cannot exclude your support in enabling her to stand tall and shoulder to shoulder with her mates.