Inspirational Aussie battler Chloe has defied the opinion of doctors and learnt to walk again

LITTLE Chloe Blinco-Kregenbrink clearly wasn't listening when doctors told her parents she'd never walk again.

Chloe Blinco-Kregenbrink, 4, has shown courage beyond her years in learning to walk again after her body became paralysed.

LITTLE Chloe Blinco-Kregenbrink clearly wasn't listening when doctors told her parents three years ago she'd never walk again.

The plucky Kingaroy toddler, then 18 months old, spent two weeks in the intensive care unit of the Royal Children's Hospital fighting an aggressive flu that had paralysed her body.

Doctors said she may never be able to even bear weight on her legs again.

"The flu attacked the myelin sheath around her nerves and basically shut her body down," mother Tracey Blinco explained.

"Eventually, they said she'd never bear weight on her right leg and with such severe nerve damage, there was nothing we could do other than therapy."

But Chloe, 4, has defied that prognosis and, with the help of a knee-ankle-foot orthotic (KAFO) which has to be recast every eight months, she has learned to walk again.

"She's an amazing kid with an amazing personality," Mrs Blinco said.

"Through sheer determination she's learned how to not only bear weight, but use her hip flexors to get herself around.

"A lot of kids would never have managed to do what she has. She's so determined and never complains."

Chloe's fightback has earned her a nomination for a Child of Courage Medal in the 2013 Pride of Australia awards.

Mrs Blinco, 33, a former personal trainer, gave up work to look after Chloe and spent 18 months on gait training to teach her daughter to walk again.

She said the Kingaroy community had been overwhelming in its support, helping the family with expenses such as a new car, house modifications, a special "crocodile" walking frame and a wheelchair for when Chloe's hips become too sore to walk.

"She's really overcome the odds to walk with this paralysed leg," Mrs Blinco said. "She gives everything a go and is always smiling. A true inspiration."

More info at facebook.com/campaign4chloe

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