I was born in the 1970's with a condition called Congenital longitudinal deficiency of the fibula or fibula hemimelia for short, (left leg) it is where the fibula is either missing or too small.It can cause shortening of the leg and also club foot, both of which I had (Apparently my mother was told that I must have an amputation to have any chance of walking, my mother decided otherwise and I still have my leg now.)

I also have deformed foot bones and have recently had my stubby little toe removed and my foot reconstructed, when I was born (see photo 9 weeks) my foot turned in and was smaller and shorter than the right foot, I was put into plaster and my foot was straightened (in the picture it looks like I have only 3 toes I think the others are hiding in the holes of the blanket).

I don't know how short my leg was at birth my mother thinks it was about an inch shorter but looked more because of the club foot. My left leg grew but at about a third slower than the right, in the photo '2inch' it is just over 2inches shorter and I have to wear a calliper to support my ankle, the idea was to let me grow to a reasonable height as a child then to arrest the growth in my good leg so that the left could catch up, but by the time of the picture '4inch' was taken the boots were getting heavy and I had developed scoliosis and knee problems because I hated wearing the ugly boots I used to take them off at school and limp around, in the picture 4inch I am wearing a full length calliper (you can see the iliac belt just above my trousers) as my knee was starting to bend backwards.

The picture 9 inch was taken after my tibial growth plate was drilled to stop it from growing any more (the idea was to let my legs equalise and then stop the left from growing, I would be short but have equal legs) it didn't quite work out like that as my left leg slowed right down in its growth and the leg that had supposedly been stopped still grew a little.

Nine inches was the most my leg difference was and I couldn't walk in the large boots so I ended up with an extension calliper (I can't find any pictures of that but am still looking)
it was a calliper that instead of plugging into the sockets in my shoe it went passed my foot and to a rubber coated sole plate my foot was supported by a plate which attached to my boot.

The picture 'camp' was taken when I was on a scout camp my legs had come down to about 5 inches difference after my first lengthening at age 15 in 1990 I could stand on tiptoes if I tilted my pelvis (ilizaroth fixators were now being routinely used in this country) but it hurt so much I said I would never have it done again.
But I did have an ilizaroth fixator to reconstruct my foot as I was getting sick of wearing orthopaedic boots, the lengthening had to be stopped at one inch as it was stretching my Achilles tendon and forcing my foot down, so I now have a LLD of 4 inches which I think I can live with, as ExFix's are a pain to live with in more ways than one!

I had my little toe removed and a bone taken from my foot so I should be able to wear normal shoes with a lift for the first time!!

I will send more pictures as I scan them, but my mother has most of my childhood photo's
she also kept most of my built up boots as I grew so I will photograph them when I get the chance
(when I can get into the attic)
you can also include my e-mail address if you like, as I am up for chating or questions.