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Happy Homecoming For Girl Who Lost Arms, Legs

LONDONDERRY, N.H. (CBS/AP) - About 300 people welcomed 9-year-old Bella Tucker back home in Londonderry, New Hampshire Sunday.

She had been at Children's Hospital Boston since Easter, after doctors had to amputate her arms and legs because of an infection. 

Active in gymnastics and cheerleading, she was rushed to Boston with a raging fever earlier this year. She was diagnosed with streptococcus pneumonia sepsis and fell into a coma.

She survived, but doctors had to amputate her arms and legs.

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WBZ Radio's Doug Cope reports from Londonderry

Her home has been rebuilt and expanded to make it more accessible for a quadruple amputee.

Tony Nigro of Suffolk Construction, who also has an 8-year-old daughter, led a group of volunteers to expand and remake Bella's home over the last four months.

"You think there but for the grace of God is us, there's my Bella," Nigro told WBZ-TV.  "The real question is, how do you not help?"

The house has a large elevator, automated restrooms, lowered kitchen appliances, a physical therapy room, and energy efficient appliances.

Her bedroom is painted a light powder blue, a color Bella chose.  It also has a humidifier, a special air filter, and finishing touches of stuffed animal monkeys and turtles – Bella's favorite animals.

"We're really happy she's still with us with the same spirit, attitude and the same humor that she had before," said her stepfather Peter Roarty.  "That's kind of her new little motto, when someone says 'Oh how'd you do that?' she says 'Oh, I just roll with it."

When building, the home's designers obeyed one rule: there's nowhere Bella can't go.  It's a rule the small girl with a big heart is already living by.

If you'd like to help Bella and her family, visit their web site bellatucker.org.

WBZ-TV's Alana Gomez contributed to this story.

(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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