Brave and determined Ruby Adams is an inspiration to us all.

And today, after five operations and three frustrating months with nearly all of her little body in plaster, the three-year-old is looking forward to a bright future.

As she gives mum Sonia a big hug in the living room of the family’s home in St Lawrence Way, Kesgrave, it’s all smiles from Ruby as she puts a year of tests, surgery and hospital visits behind her.

Sonia, who is also mum to Charlie, seven, and Finlay, five, said: “This time last year we noticed she was limping but we didn’t really think anything of it. I took her to the GP expecting him to say she would grow out of it.”

But Ruby’s pelvis was out of line and within weeks she was facing the first of five operations.

Sonia said: “Ruby’s right hip was dislocated and it had been since birth. We saw a specialist and he diagnosed hip dysplasia.”

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) describes a variety of conditions in which the ball and socket of the hip do not develop properly. It is often common in dogs.

Sonia added: “During Ruby’s second operation, they put her hip back into place but five days later she was in pain as it had come out of place again. She had another operation and that didn’t work. In the fourth operation they broke her pelvis and legs and inserted pins and plates. After each operation, she had a plaster cast from under her rib cage all the way down to the bottom of her legs.”

During the fifth procedure, the pins and plates were removed and a plaster cast was fitted to allow gradual movement of her hips.

That was in October 2010 and last month Ruby said goodbye to the plaster cast for the last time.

Sonia, 30, said: “It was difficult to adapt. She couldn’t go out in the rain, I couldn’t go to the supermarket because I couldn’t push a trolley and a wheelchair at the same time. It was a juggling act. We were counting down the days until it came off.”