'Charity that helped my son will get big reward'

Eight-month-old Daniel has had to learn to use his feet to help him as he adapts to being one of the few children born each year with abnormalities in both arms.

His mum Stephanie, 23, from Bathgate, said Daniel's condition had come as a complete shock but the support of the charity Reach had been invaluable in helping the youngster progress as well as he has.

She is now planning to raise funds for them by holding a masquerade ball next month.

She said: "Daniel's left arm stops at his elbow and he has a small right forearm and just three digits. He's missing a lot of bones in that arm so it's really small compared to a normal-sized arm.

"His fingers don't move, they don't bend, so he can't pick anything up."

The customer service advisor added: "I didn't know he was going to be born like that, it wasn't picked up in any of the scans so it was a major shock. You have got all these questions going through your head about how he is going to cope.

"It was heartbreaking.

"We have had genetic testing done but nothing has come back, it seems to be one of these things that's just happened."

Ms Tennant was put in contact with the Scottish branch of charity Reach - the Association for Children with Upper Limb Deficiency - and now wants to give something back by organising a fundraiser.

"The help I received has been amazing," said the mother-of-one. "They put me in touch with other parents who have been through the same kind of thing. It has been such a great support, even if it's just to ask any questions like 'how did your boy manage to lift a cup or eat with cutlery?'. To know there is somebody you can always speak to if you have got any worries has been amazing."

She added: "Every other child that I have met through Reach has only had one arm affected, so to have two arms affected is quite unusual."

Family and friends have all rallied round to help Ms Tennant, with her two brothers Allan, 29, and David, 27, even planning to get their legs waxed on the night.

The masquerade ball will also feature fun games, an auction and a raffle, with local companies invited to donate items.

Although Ms Tennant doesn't have a target in mind, she hopes to raise more than 600 in order to cover the cost of the buffet and DJ.

Daniel, who sometimes wears a prosthetic arm on his left side, may have to undergo an operation on his hand after his first birthday.

She said: "The doctors have to see if his fingers move first and if they do, they are hopefully going to move one of his fingers round to make a thumb to give him a pincer grip. If his fingers don't move independently then they will take one of his toes and do a toe to hand transplant."

She added: "Daniel can't physically use his hand to pick things up, but he picks things up using his stunt and arm - he hugs them. He uses his feet to pick things up too."

The masquerade ball will take place at the Cairn Hotel in Bathgate on September 4, from 7.30pm to 1am. Tickets, which cost 8, are available by emailing [email protected]