MOST little girls enjoy a relatively carefree childhood.

But meningitis survivor Charlotte Nott, five, has just undergone her 21st operation in less than three years.

The Cowley youngster, who had the lower parts of her limbs amputated after contracting meningitis in December 2010, is now recovering at home after the latest gruelling procedure to trim the bone in her left leg at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

Charlotte, who cannot use her prosthetic legs while her limb heals, told the Oxford Mail: “I feel OK.”

She was scheduled to have the operation to trim the bone on Thursday last week but had to go to A&E two days early because of an infection.

The operation the went ahead as planned on the Thursday. It is an operation that she is likely to have every year throughout her childhood.

Without it, the bone will continue to outgrow the skin and will become painful, increasing the risk of infection.

She had to have a further operation on Tuesday to trim more of the bone and left hospital on Wednesday. Now she is looking forward to returning to Horspath Primary School next week.

Mum Jenny Daniels, 32, said: “Charlotte is fine.

“She is bored. She wants to move around. We hope she is not going to be off her legs for too long.

“She is in high spirits and looking forward to going back to school next week and seeing her friends.”

She added: “What keeps us going is that Charlotte is so determined and strong and bounces back quickly, but also the support we have received from the local community and every who has fundraised,” she said.

Charlotte is expected to need surgery on her right leg in the future and she could need surgery on her arms, although she has no problems with them at the moment. Ms Daniels added: “We were really impressed with the gold star service from the John Radcliffe Hospital again and the team that worked with Charlotte – especially the plastic surgery team.”

Family and friends of Charlotte have raised more than £60,000 for her so far.

They have not yet got a target amount. Her artificial legs cost about £10,000 and her family will continue to fundraise as she grows.