Human chain of kindness leaves Gerry walking tall AS FOOTSTEPS approach his bedroom, Gerry Sokolo quickly moves his bandaged legs to the extreme left of the bed. He pats the space between him and the wall, beckoning for farm manager Pat Weldon to sit down with a bedtime story. This is different, thinks Pat. I reckon I'm about to be set up. Amid the chaos of the dorm-style Children First Foundation's farm in Kilmore, 10-year-old Gerry has had plenty of time to think in the three weeks since his operation. How did they cut off my legs? Gerry wants to know. Pat is honest, explaining that surgeons cut the skin and sawed through the bone. What did they do with my legs? He doesn't know, Pat admits, but the doctors are good people and they would have done the right thing by his legs. Can I see my legs? No, buddy. Tanzanian boy Gerry Soloko undergoes surgery at St Vincent's Private Hospital in East Melbourne. IT is as radical a procedure as you can get. How do you explain to a boy born in the slums of Tanzania that he needs to be flown to the other side of the world to have both legs chopped off? And that the physical pain he will endure - over two separate operations - will be worth it, allowing him to walk straight and tall for the first time. "The kids have already worked out in their own mind what's useless and useful to them, I don't have to say much," said orthopedic surgeon Ian Torode. Tanzanian Gerry Soloko has to have both legs amputated so he could receive two new prosthetic legs Source: News Limited STANDING has never been possible for Gerry. He was born with the most severe form of the rare lower limb deficiency, tibial hemimelia. With the shin bone missing in both legs - and consequently no ankle or knee joint - his feet were bent awkwardly upwards and his legs stuck in lotus-position. Not that it has stopped him getting around. A can-do attitude, however, can only get you so far in a country where albinos are routinely killed for their body parts, belief in witchcraft is common and child labour is rife. But Gerry's fate - his chance of a future where he can get a meaningful job and walk proud - has been secured through a human chain of kindness. This chain started in the shanty towns of Tanzania's largest city of Dar es Salaam, where Gerry was first rescued and adopted into the home of a local business woman. The chain then stretched to the Children First Foundation in Kilmore where he has spent the past two years preparing for and recovering from surgery, carer for by volunteers. On a flight donated by Emirates, it stretched to a cardiac theatre in India where surgeons stabilised his failing heart so he could survive the leg surgery. The chain then linked to an operating table at St Vincent's Private Hospital in East Melbourne where his legs were removed by theatre staff who had donated their time for the procedure. The final links were added by Fitzroy prosthetist Richard Fejer who handcrafted the legs at his Orthopedic Appliances workshop, and by students of St Monica's College and St Peter's Primary School in Epping who raised $5000 for Gerry's care. Orthopedic surgeon Ian Torode assesses whether Gerry will be fitted for his new legs. GERRY had been told about Ahmed Kelly by his guardian before he arrived in Australia. Ahmed was proof that not only did life go on after losing your legs, but life could be exceptional. Exposure to chemical weapons in Iraq had left the 21-year-old adopted son of Children First Foundation founder Moria Kelly with no forearms, hands and needing two prosthetic legs. Don't say anything, Pat told Ahmed the first time the boys met, just kick off your legs so he can see them. Pat watched Gerry studying Ahmed, his eyes wide, scanning Ahmed's body in wonder as they casually mentioned how Ahmed loved swimming, playing football and driving a car. The spark of what-could-be was ignited. Through this special bond, Gerry came to understand that if he trusted the doctors and worked hard at rehabilitation, his life, too, could be exceptional. Michelle Lyons, host parent comforts Tanzanian boy, Gerry Soloko before his operation at St Vincent's Private Hospital, Melbourne. GERRY'S pride is evident in his posture. Four months after the surgery, he no longer needs to physically look up at everyone he meets. He can see further. Pat is teaching him to waltz in the farm kitchen; a slightly wonky one-two-two, one-two-two stomp around the laminated island bench. Gerry has started kicking a soccer ball, the main motivation for him going through with surgery. As the main obsession of other Tanzanian boys his age, soccer to him signifies normality. Gerry will return to Australia in about a year to be fitted with longer legs with movable knee joints. "When I got my first legs I just wanted to run straight away," Ahmed tells Gerry. But with patience comes big things, like playing football. When I played they called me 'Nails' because I was tough as nails. Gerry tilts his head to the side, thinking. "I'm going to be fast and tough," he decides. I want to be called tough as lightening. The Children First Farm has an open day in Kilmore tomorrow (Sunday, October 20), with the foundation's Gala fundraising ball on November 16. Details: childrenfirstfoundation.org.au