Home Life Style The mother whose nine-year-old son had his foot amputated at 18 months thought it was a “scam” when he was discovered as a model, but now travels the world photographing for Amazon and Primark.

The mother whose nine-year-old son had his foot amputated at 18 months thought it was a “scam” when he was discovered as a model, but now travels the world photographing for Amazon and Primark.

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Arlo Tate had his leg amputated when he was only 18 months old, but at nine he is already a successful model.

A nine-year-old boy who lost his foot at 18 months has become a model and now travels the world posing for famous brands.

Arlo Tate, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia (a missing fibula) at birth.

His right foot was bent inward, so doctors suggested that his parents allow them to amputate his foot so he could learn to walk with a prosthetic leg.

Arlo’s mother Naomi, 38, says starting to walk with a prosthesis was incredibly easy and Arlo hasn’t let his disability stop him.

In March 2020, Arlo was discovered by a diverse modeling agency who wanted to sign him and has since traveled to Prague, London and Manchester, where he was paid £500 per shoot for brands including Primark, Amazon and Schuh.

Arlo Tate had his leg amputated when he was only 18 months old, but at nine he is already a successful model.

Naomi, a property investment consultant, said: “Arlo has beaten the odds to become a model before even turning 10.

“At first I thought it was a scam, but it’s amazing to see him modeling for all these big brands.

“They take very good care of him; every job he does is very luxurious.”

“We can take him to toy shops and let him choose how to spend his salary, and he earns £500 a session.

“He’s not at all worried about making so much money; he just loves sightseeing and making new friends.”

Naomi says Arlo’s friends didn’t even know Arlo had a disability because he plays soccer, basketball and rugby with them.

At the 20-week scan she was told her child would be born with an “abnormality”, despite having had a “normal” pregnancy beforehand.

But doctors weren’t exactly sure what the anomaly was, and the missing fibula was discovered at birth.

Arlo has traveled to Prague, London and Manchester, where he was paid £500 a shoot for brands including Primark, Amazon and Schuh. Pictured: A recent photo shoot for Primark.

Arlo has traveled to Prague, London and Manchester, where he was paid £500 a shoot for brands including Primark, Amazon and Schuh. Pictured: A recent photoshoot for Primark.

Arlo, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia (a missing fibula) at birth (pictured with his mother Naomi)

Arlo, from Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia (a missing fibula) at birth (pictured with his mother Naomi)

Due to his missing fibula and abnormal tibia, which was bent to one side, Arlo’s right foot curved inward and only had three toes.

Naomi said: “It was significantly shorter than his left leg.” She would have grown, but at a very slow rate.

“I went straight to Facebook to find other moms who were going through the same thing, it made me feel less alone.”

As she talked to the other moms, Naomi began to weigh her options.

He heard he might undergo leg lengthening surgery for Arlo, which is often an option for patients with a shortened fibula.

But doctors told him it wouldn’t be possible because they couldn’t extend or replace bones that weren’t there to begin with.

After 18 months of research, Naomi and Arlo’s care team decided that amputation would be the best option.

She said: ‘We decided the best way would be to amputate his right foot. At first he was very nervous.

Arlo's mother, Naomi, says her son loves his prosthetic leg and it allows him to live life to the fullest.

Arlo’s mother, Naomi, says her son loves his prosthetic leg and it allows him to live life to the fullest.

In March 2020, Naomi and Arlo (pictured together) decided to spend lockdown making prank videos on TikTok, and it wasn't long before they received a message from a talent scout.

In March 2020, Naomi and Arlo (pictured together) decided to spend lockdown making prank videos on TikTok, and it wasn’t long before they received a message from a talent scout.

“But in the three months before the surgery, doctors fitted Arlo with a prosthetic leg, which had five little fingers.

‘He absolutely loved it. She gave him the flexibility to walk and could even put a shoe on him.

“I knew amputation would be the best decision; he wouldn’t know any different and could learn to walk with the prosthesis.”

“In the end, I had to think about it: his foot is useless to him and a prosthesis would give him mobility for life.”

“They’re just replacing something that’s not useful to you with something that is.”

On July 6, 2016, when he was one year old, Arlo had his right foot amputated and continued learning to walk with his prosthetics.

Naomi says she didn’t have any difficulties and stuck to as many sports and running clubs as possible as she grew up.

In March 2020, Naomi and Arlo decided to spend confinement making prank videos on TikTok, where they post to their account. @naomiandarlo.

Naomi was told at her 20-week scan that her son would be born with a

Naomi was told at her 20-week scan that her child would be born with an “abnormality”, despite having had a “normal” pregnancy beforehand. Arlo is portrayed as a newborn

Naomi says starting to walk with a prosthesis was incredibly easy and Arlo hasn't let his disability stop him.

Naomi says starting to walk with a prosthesis was incredibly easy and Arlo hasn’t let his disability stop him.

Naomi says that Arlo's friends didn't even know Arlo had a disability, as he plays soccer, basketball and rugby with them.

Naomi says that Arlo’s friends didn’t even know Arlo had a disability, as he plays soccer, basketball and rugby with them.

Arlo says he has been really enjoying his new business and loves the adventure and luxury that comes with it.

Arlo says he has been really enjoying his new business and loves the adventure and luxury that comes with it.

The account received a message from a talent scout at a modeling agency, which Naomi initially thought was a scam.

But when the main verified account messaged him later, he realized it was real.

“The agency contacted me through TikTok,” Naomi said.

“I thought it was a joke, but they said they wanted to sign Arlo up.

“We chatted on the phone and then I said to Arlo, ‘You have a contract to work; “You’re going to start making your own money.” He wasn’t at all fazed.

After four months, Arlo flew to Prague, Czech Republic, to shoot his first campaign.

WHAT IS FIBULAR HEMIMELIA?

Fibular hemimelia, which causes one shin to be shorter than the other, is a rare birth defect, affecting approximately one in every 25,000 births.

However, it is the most common form of leg bone problem that is present from birth. It can cause children to have difficulty walking and standing.

There are two long bones in the lower leg: the thicker one is called the tibia and the thinner one is the fibula. The condition can cause the tibia to be shorter than normal and the fibula to be missing or underdeveloped, the NHS says.

The birth defect can also cause the heart to become deformed and, in some cases, not move properly.

In addition to causing problems with the shins, knees, and feet, it can also cause some children to have a slower-growing femur (thigh bone). It can also affect soft tissues and bones.

In most cases, it is unknown why fibular hemimelia occurs, but it is believed to begin in the early stages of growth. It is not believed to be genetic.

Treatment includes insoles to compensate for the shape of the food, leg lengthening and operations to improve the shape of the foot.

Some people do not need any treatment, and in rare cases it is possible to amputate the foot or lower leg and replace it with an artificial limb.

Fibula hemimelia is the condition with which the murderer Oscar Pistorius was born. At 11 months he had both legs amputated below the knee, but he later won gold while running with prosthetics and competed in the Paralympic and Olympic Games.

The goal of the shoot was to make Amazon available in North America, South Africa and China. He was paid £500.

It lasted four days and Naomi says they set it up like a “movie studio.”

And he added: “His first job was really important: there was all the film equipment ready.

‘We had a driver pick us up at the airport and they showed his name on a card at the boarding gate. “They really treated us with luxury.”

Arlo says he has been really enjoying his new business and loves the adventure and luxury that comes with it.

Arlo said: “It’s a lot of fun, I like to travel.”

“What I like to do most is go sightseeing and make new friends.”

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