Toddler missing a leg bone desperate to walk

An adventurous Queensland toddler desperate to take his first steps will be forced to undergo surgery in the US to overcome a rare disabling condition that cannot be treated in Australia.

Sixteen-month-old Khye Degn was born with fibular hemimelia, which means his right leg is shorter than his left and he is missing a bone in his leg and two toes.

Australian doctors had advised to amputate, but Khye's parents Angela Degn and Matt Freeck have instead turned their attention overseas, where Florida surgeon Dr Dror Paley says fixing Khye's leg is a routine operation.

The family now faces a mammoth bill to fund the surgery, which is not available here.

"People our age are normally saving for a house we are saving our son's leg," Ms Degn told A Current Affair.

Dr Paley's limb-lengthening process, developed in 1996, involves a series of surgeries and a metal frame boot which lengthens and reshapes the leg.

Together with travel and rehabilitation costs, the treatment will set the young family back about $200,000.

Another Australian toddler with fibular hemimelia is making headlines in the US after undergoing her third and final round of the life-changing surgery at the hands of Dr Paley.

It has been four years since father Simon Reilly was first told that his daughter Demi would lose her leg.

"We went to doctors all around Australia, even went to Singapore and specialist surgeons and we were faced with an outcome of amputation," he said.

After discovering Dr Paley, Mr Reilly says life is looking up for Demi.

"Six months after we had the operation the magic did appear and Demi was walking and climbing and doing all the stuff a normal baby should be doing," he said.

"I would like to see an institute in Australia where this kind of treatment is available."