By Laura Molyneaux

A HEARTBROKEN Andover schoolboy has covered his prosthetic leg with pictures of his late grandfather and his favourite things.

Teejay Stainer decided on the tribute as a mark of respect for his grandfather Richard Stainer, who died of lung cancer aged 73, just 11 days before an operation to amputate his right leg below the knee.

Teejay, 11, was born with a leg deformity called fibulae hemimelia and had his leg amputated at the ankle as a baby for a better quality of life.

Having a prosthetic leg enables Teejay to move freely and take part in activities his family never thought he would be able to do – such as scrambling on the rocks by the sea.

For the images on the prosthetic, Teejay chose a picture of his grandfather on a family holiday, alongside with images of his favourite things.

The text across his prosthetic leg reads: “In tribute to grandad Richard Montgomery Stainer 11.05.1943 – 07.02.2017.”

Teejay’s mother, Georgina Stainer said: “Teejay said he didn’t want a picture of his face on his leg as it would upset him too much, so he chose one of his granddad walking peacefully along the seafront in Lanzarote.

“It’s completely surrounded by pictures that remind Teejay of the things his grandad loved, including his dogs, favourite brandy that he drank at Christmas, cowboy hat and boots, as he loved cowboy films and country and western music, and a lorry full of sacks as he was a coalman for many years.

The 28-year-old mother-ofthree added: “Teejay was really close to his grandfather Richard, we all were. He supported us with every operation and every appointment since Teejay was born. He regularly took us to hospital and was very much a part of our family.

“We used to see or talk to him everyday so it felt only right for Teejay to pay tribute to him by covering his prosthetic leg with a picture of him and reminders of his favourite things.”

Mr Stainer, who lived nearby, regularly took his grandson to hospital appointments at St Mary’s Hospital, Portsmouth.

This is Teejay’s tenth prosthetic leg, which are all displayed around the house he shares with mum, dad, and two sisters.

Football-mad Teejay is attending the European Amputee Juniors Camp in Poland in July, as part of the GB Junior Squad.