Helen Smith was a gifted student with a bright future when she was struck by a cruel and devastating blow.
She was 24 and had just started studying for a doctorate at London's Imperial College after graduating in biology from Bath University when she was struck down with virulent meningococcal septicaemia.
As she lay in a coma for three weeks, surgeons amputated both her legs.
Most of one arm had to be removed and her other hand amputated....
More than anything, she wanted to lead a "normal" life again.
But her pleas for realistic-looking prosthetics that would make that possible were turned down because they are available only from a private clinic.
Instead, she was given a hook for one arm and false legs which didn't fit.
Helen took on her local health authority and even offered to pay most of the cost after raising �65,000.
But the answer was No.
Thousands of Mirror readers moved and angered by her plight donated more than �20,000 - and next month she is due to get the full set of limbs she has worked so hard for.
Is this the path ObamaCare will lead us down?