A tot born with a rare mutation which causes his foot to 'grow uncontrollably' has defied the odds to take his first steps after being told he'd never walk. <br /><br />Axel Horgan, two, was born with genetic condition congenital lipomatous overgrowth (CLOVES) - which can result in vascular, spinal, skin, bone or joint abnormalities. <br /><br />He is one of just 200 people in the world with the condition.<br /><br />Axel's left leg was "very large from birth" and has been growing ever since.<br /><br />His parents, Eddie, 27, and Sarah, 27, a nurse, say their son has "proved doctors wrong" - after being told he’d likely not live past the age of two or three and never be able to walk, talk, go to the toilet, or eat.<br /><br />In January 2025, he'll have both feet amputated so he can live pain-free and he'll need to learn how to walk with two prosthetics in physiotherapy. <br /><br />Eddie, a laboratory technician, from Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland, said: “When a child has a rare illness they face two battles.<br /><br />"One is the illness itself and the other is living in a world where so few people understand what you're up against.<br /><br />“We were told to take him home and enjoy him - because he would only have two to three years to live.<br /><br />“The specialists decided on amputation as they said it would give him increased function and less pain. <br /><br />"He's in a lot of pain daily and it is hoped to improve his quality of life."<br /><br />Sarah says her pregnancy was healthy, and on May 12, 2022, Axel was born at University Hospital Kerry, Ireland - weighing 10lbs 11oz.<br /><br />He was born with a "port wine stain on his left side" and vascular overgrowths which were "clear to the eye."<br /><br />He went through rigorous genetic testing, including skin biopsies, ECGs, MRIs and various blood tests and in July 2022, he was diagnosed with CLOVES. <br /><br />Sarah said: “I love my boy regardless and I was prepared to do anything, no matter what the test results that would come back he will always be my baby."<br /><br />Axel was later hospitalised and required a feeding tube. <br /><br />He was unable to lie down or sit up without morphine for two weeks.<br /><br />Doctors have said Axel’s CLOVES has made him more susceptible to certain types of cancer - like Wilm's tumour.<br /><br />His amputation was decided when Axel was 18 months old and he had assessments from his physiotherapy, x-rays and MRIs, he was also in pain regularly.<br /><br />The amputation is planned for next year and Axel will need to learn to walk with prosthetics for the rest of his life. <br /><br />He currently receives physiotherapy at First Steps Physiotherapy Limerick and CDNT Listowel - and his parents pay £170 per week.<br /><br />But the cost is expected to go up to £320 per week - after the surgery. <br /><br />Eddie said: “Due to the lack of HSE resources, we have had to get private physio and speech and language therapy. <br /><br />"The support from the GoFundMe has been really helpful to this going forward.<br /><br />“He will have prosthetics instead - by the time he's older he won't know any different. <br /><br />“He's such a happy baby and we want him not to have any pain, we'd do
