THIS is the moment Tracy Ralph took her first steps on her new prosthetics two months after having her legs amputated.

She managed to stand on her new legs after two weeks of intense physiotherapy at a specialist unit in Roehampton.

Her remarkable progress came as her friends ran the Brentwood half marathon in her name and fundraising for her rehabilitaiton headed towards £150,000.

The mum-of-two was rushed to hospital over Christmas with pneumonia and was placed in an induced coma.

She then contracted meningitis and septicaemia before battling blood clots, bleeding on the brain and complete organ failure.

The 34-year-old from Hawkwell had to have both legs amputated below the knees and also had her fingers removed at St Thomas’s Hospital, in London.

Now, two months later, she is back on her feet thanks to prosthetics supplied by the NHS.

Her sister in law, Amanda Ralph, said: “This is a sight for sore eyes, our beautiful Tracy on her new legs. This is just the start so you won't be seeing her out for a stroll any time soon but how amazing is this picture.”

Tracy’s friend Michelle Cooper, 39, from Rochford, said: “She was on her new legs for the first time on Friday.

“They had her standing on them and holding onto a bar.

“She’s doing well and is really determined as she just wants to get home to her family.”

Tracy spends five days a week at the specialist unit before returning home each weekend to her husband Brad and their children four-year-old Hudson and 20-month-old Miller.

Mrs Cooper said: “Everyone is over the moon that she’s stood up on her new feet.

“She’s working very hard at Roehampton. It’s very intense physio sessions five days a week from 9am to 3pm. They are building up her muscles.

“She comes home at the weekend to see her family.

“Next they will focus on her starting to walk again.

“In terms of what’s happened to her, it’s still really raw.”

A keen runner, Tracy was training for the Brentwood Half Marathon before she fell ill and 60 runners from Essex Ladies Running Club and other groups completed the 13.1mile race in Tracy’s name on Sunday.

Mrs Cooper said: “We are still waiting to find out how much we raised at the half marathon.

“There were 60 runners from Essex Ladies and we had a stall with water and sweets and cakes for the runners.

“It was quite emotional as Tracy was supposed to be running it.

“The atmosphere was brilliant and everyone had a really good time. All her friends were there and it’s fantastic the support she’s had from those running the half marathon.”

Other fundraising efforts from family, friends and strangers moved by Tracy’s plight have raised £147,000.

The money will be spent on prosthetic legs and Tracy’s rehabilitation.

For details on the latest fundraising events visit: www.teamtc.co.uk.