Mark Erickson was seated with daughter, Hailey, at Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics. They were waiting to see about having her prosthetic leg repaired when Hailey's mother, Kerry, walked in the door.

The youngster, who will be 2 in September, jumped off her father's lap and ran to greet her mother. She didn't miss a stride and one could hardly tell the Newburgh girl is fitted with an artificial limb on her left leg.

Hailey was born with a congenital birth defect that rendered her left foot useless because there is no fibula in her left leg. The condition rendered the leg too short.

The difference between her left and right leg was far too great for the couple to consider any other option for their daughter but to amputate, then be fitted with a prosthetic limb.

After consulting with an orthopedic doctor in Evansville, the procedure was completed at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis in July 2008.

Hailey's foot was removed just above the ankle.

So far, the results have been stellar and the decision to amputate has proven to be the right one.

Hailey was fitted with her first limb shortly before she could start walking. Throughout her life, the prosthetic leg will have to be continuously adjusted, refitted and replaced.

"Right before she started walking, she was already crawling and kind of pulling herself up on things," Kerry Erickson said. "Once she had the leg, she was kind of cruising and walking on her own three months afterwards."

Hailey has worked with the same prosthetic technician at Hanger from day one, Princeton resident Shawn Seib, who has been employed at Hanger since 2000.

Seib and Hailey have formed a bond that both seem comfortable with, although Hailey still cries at the office when the limb is initially removed. But she quickly stops as she realizes the process is similar to what happened during her last visit and the prosthetic goes back on.

"A lot of teamwork is involved. It's an ongoing process," Seib said.

The Erickson's have only praise for the experience.

"We've been really impressed with the work they've done," Kelly Erickson said.

As Seib finishes his work on Hailey's limb, the youngster dries her tears, goes to work on a pacifier and focuses her big eyes on Seib, the soon to be father who is expecting his first child any day now with wife, Marissa.

"I'm very proud of you," Seib says to Hailey, as the pair high-five each other.