text: Luca Railton, 11, was told he would never walk - but has now taken his first steps unaided . An 11-year-old boy told he would never walk has taken his first steps unaided thanks to pioneering treatment in the US. Luca Railton was born with bones missing from his legs, due to the rare condition bilateral tibial hemimelia. Doctors said the condition - which affects just one in three million people - meant he would to have his right leg amputated or fused straight. But his loved ones refused to accept these grim prospects, which would have left Luca severely disabled for life. Instead, they began desperately trying to find other suitable treatments, and eventually found an American surgeon called Dr Dror Paley, who assured Luca's parents his leg could be saved. Through tireless fundraising, Mr and Mrs Railton managed to raise £135,000 to take their son to the US for surgery. He underwent a series of operations – including one to break his right leg and start lengthening his femur (thigh bone). Now, Luca is walking unaided – without the stints he formerly needed - and can even play cricket and tennis. His mother, Teresa, 43, said: 'From the moment he was born our goal in life has been for him to keep his legs. 'We knew we would do everything in our power for him. Before we went to America, Luca was getting worse. 'He was in pain and reliant on his crutches. It was awful to see. 'We knew we had to raise £135,000 and our friends have been brilliant. We have had amazing donations. But if we hadn't our plan B was to re-mortgage the house.' Luca was born with no shin bone (tibia) and no knee in his right leg, and only a partial shin bone in his left leg. For the first year of his life, every doctor said that his leg would eventually be amputated. But his family discovered a German surgeon called Professor Weber who had been working on Luca's rare problem, and he agreed to come to England to perform a pioneering 10 hour operation on Luca's legs. The surgery was hugely successful and for the next few years, Luca was able to walk on his own and play with other children. Throughout his childhood years, Luca underwent over 60 hours of surgery as doctors tried to rebuild his legs over and over again as he has grew. But in February last year, when Luca was 10, NHS doctors told his parents there was nothing more they could do for him, and recommended he have his leg amputated, or fused straight. But his family refused to give up and combed the medical literature for alternatives, eventually coming across Dr Dror Paley, an orthopaedic surgeon in Florida. He claims to be the most experienced limb lengthening and deformity correction surgeon in the United States as well as internationally. Luca was born with bones missing from his legs, due to the rare condition bilateral tibial hemimelia. At 10-years-old doctors said nothing more could be done for him and he would need to have his leg amputated . Throughout his childhood years, Luca underwent more than 60 hours of surgery as doctors tried to rebuild his legs over and over again as he has grew . Dr Paley said he would be able to save Luca's leg and allow him to walk, so his parents began fundraising more than £100,000 to take their son to the US. They held karaoke night, Zumba night, cake sales, races, sponsored walks and convinced local companies to donate. Setting up social media accounts and a website meant people could donate directly to Luca's cause. They were able to raise the cash and Luca underwent his first lengthy operation on March 27. He then had three more operations between May and November. Each day for several weeks, his parents had to turn struts placed in their son's leg to allow the bone to grow. Since his return, Luca (pictured right with his mother) is now able to walk without crutches, play tennis, cricket and even hopes to drive cars. He is pictured, left, as a baby, after being diagnosed . After nine months, on December 19, Luca and his parents returned to their home near Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Since his return, Luca has made immense progress and over the last week has been able to walk without crutches. But while the Railtons are celebrating Luca's success, the ordeal is not over as he will need further surgery to lengthen his right leg in three years time. The rod inserted in his leg may also be removed and he will require a knee implant. Luca said: 'It's getting easier. It was difficult at times because of the pain. 'The highlight for me was when the frame came off on November 19. And it makes it a lot easier to get dressed in the morning without callipers [stints]. I can wear skinny jeans and I just wear regular shoes now.I can wear skinny jeans and I just wear regular shoes now.
target: Luca Railton was born with leg bones missing due to a medical condition .
  In February 2014, doctors said he would need to have his leg amputated .
  But his family raised £135k to take him to the US for surgery instead .
  Now, he is able to walk unaided and is happy he can wear skinny jeans .