A MUM who had her legs amputated has recovered enough to begin physiotherapy.

Tracy Ralph, 34, from Hawkwell, was rushed into hospital on Christmas Eve with pneumonia.

She was placed in an induced coma and contracted meningitis and septicaemia before battling blood clots, bleeding on the brain and complete organ failure.

Tracy, mum to young sons four-year-old Hudson and 20- month-old Miller, had to have both legs amputated below the knees and also had her fingers removed at St Thomas’s Hospital, in London.

She has been moved to a ward at Southend Hospital and two months on is ready for rehabilitation, but it will mean spending more time away from her family.

The nearest unit is believed to be at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Roehampton, London – 50 miles away.

Husband Bradley, 37, said: “As you all knowmy beautiful wife has been extremely unwell and against all odds she made it through.

“She is now well enough to start her rehab, we are just waiting for a bed at Roehampton.

“Once again I would just like to thank you all for all the love you have shown us at this terrible time.”

It’s unknown how long Tracy will have to wait for a bed to become available.

Fundraising efforts from family, friends and strangers moved by Tracy’s plight have raised £132,000.

The money will be spent on prosthetic legs and help for Tracy, who was training to run the Brentwood Half Marathon when she fell ill.

Sheffield-based prosthetics company Blatchford, who provide clinical services to the NHS, military and independent sectors, came forward to offer Tracy running blades as well as help and advice for her rehab.

Tracy’s sister-in-law Amanda Ralph, 41, from Canewdon, said: “We understand Roehampton is the nearest place that can offer her a bed. It’s a shame that she’s just come back and will be taken away again.

“We’ve been offered running blades and once she has been moved and the swelling has gone down they will start measuring her up for the prosthetics.

“They will do a few measurements and then we can look into walking legs, swimming legs, running legs, we’re going to have a cupboard full of legs.

“She’s doing much better and every time I’ve seen her she is better in herself.”

A COMMUNITY disco has raised more than £3,500 towards Tracy Ralph’s rehabilitation fund.

A group of mothers from Hockley teamed up to organise the disco in the village’s community hall.

Tickets were a sell-out and the hall was at capacity as revellers enjoyed a night of merriment to raise money for local mum Tracy.

There was a disco, raffle and buffet with food supplied from the 14 other Co-op stores in the area.

Tina Neave, store manager for Hockley Co-op, said: “The Co-op was honoured to be able to donate all the party food.

“It just shows how a community can come together in a crisis and support someone who none of us even knew but touched our hearts and wanted to help.

“The mums said they would not have been able to do this without our support as they would have had to take all the money for the food out of the money raised.

“The Co-operative is very community focused and pleased we could do something to help and make a difference to Tracy’s recovery.”