A double amputee mum who is the same height as her toddler after she lost both legs to sepsis says she "doesn't care when people stare".<br /><br />Hülya Marquardt, 40, had metal pins inserted into her legs to straighten them when she was a child.<br /><br />But the tissue around the pins got infected, Hülya developed sepsis and she had both legs amputated above the knees, aged 18.<br /><br />Doctors said she'd live in a care home but defiant Hülya walked on her hands and used a skateboard.<br /><br />At 1m tall she said "people thought I shouldn't have a child" but Hülya and husband Dennis Marquardt, 39, became parents to Rangi, now three.<br /><br />Hülya said she has been able to do everything an able-bodied mother can - just "differently".<br /><br />She is often stared at by strangers when they see her crawling on the ground - but says she doesn't need "pity" or "praise" for living her life independently.<br /><br />Hülya, a fashion boutique owner, from Stuttgart, Germany, said: "An amputee is just another human being with strengths and weaknesses like everyone else.<br /><br />"Having no legs, I am only one metre tall and this looks very different from what we conceive as 'normal' within our society.<br /><br />"But it simply means that I have to do some things differently and depend on help for other things.<br /><br />"When people see me crawling on the ground, they often think that there is no dignity in having to live this way.<br /><br />"But I think there is always dignity in trying to lead a self-determined and independent life.<br /><br />"I didn’t want my child to grow up any differently or miss out because I'm disabled.<br /><br />"If I struggle or fall over it can be tough but as long as I don't hurt myself I can always laugh about it."<br /><br />Hülya was born was with deformities in her legs and hands and grew up being bullied for her differences.<br /><br />After surgery she could walk, but aged 17, one of the screws came loose, leading to an infection which became sepsis, and she had a double amputation.<br /><br />She said: "Doctors back then also told me I’d probably always have to use an electric wheelchair because I couldn’t use a manual one with my hands.<br /><br />"They thought I'd be living in a care home for my whole life."<br /><br />She also got prosthetics fitted for her stumps.<br /><br />She said: "Everyone around me was surprised how quickly I adapted to this new life physically and mentally.<br /><br />"But I lived with a disability from a young age so I was used to adapting - I straight away told myself I just need to get on with it and make the most of it.<br /><br />"If I'm now the 'half girl', I'll just have to be the 'half girl'."<br /><br />She became fully independent - securing an office job and a hand-controlled car.<br /><br />In 2014 she met Dennis through a mutual friend and they travelled the world together before marrying in 2018.<br /><br />They bought a home together in Stuttgart and settled down and by late 2019 they found were expecting a child.
