Born with a rare medical condition that left her in constant pain, Carys Price decided one day that enough was enough - and it was time to amputate her leg.
Carys was born with talipes, also known as clubfoot. The birth defect can affect one or both feet and which affects around one in every 1,000 babies born in the UK.
Although early treatment can normally correct it, Carys endured years of pain.
After 49 operations, Carys decided she wanted to have her left leg amputated.
"I originally asked for an amputation when I was seven," she said. "I was in constant pain.
"We decided, my doctor and I, to try a few more surgeries and then see if those would help. If not, I would have the amputation at 16."
After they didn't work, Carys decided to go ahead with the amputation in December 2015 at the Noah's Ark Children's Hospital in Cardiff.
"I’d had so many surgeries to try and correct my condition, but nothing helped, in fact my condition was getting worse," she said.
"I wasn’t able to do things other children could do and I was living in constant pain, so I decided to go through with my amputation.
"Doing so was the best decision I’ve ever made. I’m no longer suffering, and I can do so much more now with one leg than I ever could with two.
"There were so many things I struggled with before, but I can now do them with ease.
"I can stand longer and stay out longer with friends. It's much easier.
"I've adapted to life really quickly – it was surprisingly easy to adjust, and I feel as if I have had an amputation all of my life.
"It took me about two months to get used to having a fake leg.
"I couldn't be happier."
Carys, from Ynyshir in the Rhondda , started cheerleading when she was only five years old.
But after her major operation, she was unsure if she could continue.
Then she met a member from Team Wales Paracheer, a 20 strong team made up of both disabled and non-disabled athletes, who encouraged her to try out.
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Ater impressing coaches with her skill, passion and determination, Carys - now 18 - has been selected to be part of the Welsh squad heading to the World Cheerleading Championships.
The competition, held at Orlando’s Walt Disney resort, sees top cheerleading talent from all over the world come together.
It will also be the first year that Wales has a paracheer team competing in the contest, who will be competing in the paracheer category – a division of the sport designed for people who have disabilities.
It's a dream come true for Carys, who is studying at Coleg y Cymoedd and hopes to become a play specialist on a children’s ward in hospital.
"After my operation, I never had any doubt in my mind that I would get back into cheerleading," she added.
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"I thought to myself, if I could do it with two legs, I’d find a way of doing it with one.
"I managed to get back into it easily – it’s amazing what your body can do and I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
"I’m so excited to compete in the world championships. "
"This has been a dream of mine for a very long time and now it's coming true," she added.
"I was over the moon when I got selected and I’m really looking forward to the competition.
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"You have to keep trying and don't give up.
"You've just got to push yourself."
