10-year-old amputee, Santa Rosa fire survivor scores big day with Harlem Globetrotters

First she wowed Ellen Degeneres on 'Ellen', then Lilly Biagini wowed the Harlem Globetrotters and their fans over the weekend at Oracle Arena.|
CHRIS SMITH
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

At Oracle Arena on Saturday, 10-year-old firestorm survivor Lilly Biagini scored big with the Harlem Globetrotters and the crowd.

Lilly is the amazing Santa Rosa kid who lost both legs to amputation years ago, and in October escaped the rental house she shared with her mom, Jessica, before flames devoured it. Among the possessions burned were her prosthetic legs.

Lilly has since been the beneficiary of kindness from many, including Ellen DeGeneres, who had her on national TV, and prosthetics maker Hanger, Inc., which made her a pair of new legs.

Globetrotters player Zeus McClurkin came to St. John the Baptist School in Healdsburg to visit with students who'd lost their homes. Upon meeting Lilly he invited her and her mom to Saturday's game in Oakland.

A YouTube video shows Lilly at center court at the home of the Warriors, sporting her Globetrotters jersey and looking like just about the happiest girl in the world.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@pressdemocrat.com.

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