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​Teen Born Without A Leg Donates Barbies With Prosthetic Legs To Local Children's Hospital

​Teen Born Without A Leg Donates Barbies With Prosthetic Legs To Local Children's Hospital

Chloe Newman wanted to give back to the hospital who has helped her for so many years.

Lauren Bell

Lauren Bell

A teenager has donated Barbie dolls with prosthetic legs to her local children's hospital, in a bid to help other disabled teens feel more confident in themselves.

18-year-old Chloe Newman - who lost her own leg before being born - felt that she didn't have a doll that reflected her body growing up, and knew that it would mean the world to others in the same position.

Chloe from Mechanicville, New York in the US, has Amniotic Band Syndrome.

It is a rare condition that occurs when an unborn baby becomes entangled in fibrous amniotic bands that wrap themselves around body parts restricting blood flow and cause birth defects - from club foot to amputated limbs.

In Chloe's case, they wrapped so tightly it caused her leg to become detached before birth.

Since then, Chloe has received so much help from Shriners' Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services unit, in Springfield, Massachusetts, receiving a new prosthetic leg yearly, her mom Cindy Newman told CNN.

Chloe's appeal for Barbie with a prosthetic leg went viral and she ended up with 600 Barbies to donate to the hospital. (
Chloe Newman/Facebook)

Because of all the help, Chloe wanted to give back and help others in her position come to terms with their limb loss and feel more confident in their own skin.

So when Chloe saw Barbie had launched a Fashionista doll with a prosthetic leg, she was so excited.

She told Shriners hospital: "I really was like oh my gosh, oh my gosh, finally a doll representing that segment of the population!"

Mattel introduced a more inclusive range of Barbies in June 2019. (
Mattel)

When it came to tracking down the dolls though, Chloe's local Walmart only had four, so she and her family took to social media to encourage everyone to help her find more.

They asked friends and family to purchase dolls when they spotted them and said they would pay them back the money if they did - of course nobody asked to be reimbursed.

But little did they know that before long the request would go viral. Soon dolls were overtaking Chloe's family's dining room.

Chloe delivered the dolls in person to the Shriners hospital. (
WWLP)

Even Barbie itself heard what Chloe was up to, tweeting: "The world needs #MoreRoleModels like Chloe. Sending a little something your way, @shrinershosp."

Soon the family had 400 of the dolls to donate, with Mattel, the maker of Barbie sending 200 more to Shriners' hospital directly.

When she went to the hospital to deliver the dolls, she was able to present one to a fellow patient.

Chloe delivered the dolls personally to the hospital. (
Shriners' Children's Hospital)

Brock McConkey, CPO, manager, Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS), who has also fabricated and fitted Chloe with her legs for most of her life said: "The donated dolls will serve as tools in therapeutic education and medical play for kids facing amputation - and their siblings - to help explain their situation."

The dolls will be shared with other POPS locations around the USA, now that there are 600.

Shriners' Hospital said: "We are very grateful to Chloe, her mom, and the friends and families who supported these efforts, and to Mattel for their donation and their inclusive range of dolls to inspire kids like Chloe."

Chloe, people like you restore our faith in humanity.

Featured Image Credit: Chloe Newman/Facebook

Topics: Life News, Life, Real Life