JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 13-year-old girl diagnosed with cancer at a young age was able to walk a little taller Friday thanks to a rare procedure done by a doctor at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center.

When Bria Brown was 6 years old, she went to a doctor because of pain in her leg. That's when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer that strikes one in 1 million.

Brown was told she would lose her leg. However, seven years later, she still has both legs and continues to beat the odds.

An orthopedic surgeon recently performed a limb lengthening on the 13-year-old.

"I was just focusing on going to school and running," said Brown.

The teen cancer survivor said she remembers what life was like before cancer. Her mother, Carol Brown, said the news was devastating.

"Even though it's been six years, it's not something I would want any parent to go through," Carol Brown said.

She said she and her husband could not imagine the thought of their young daughter losing her leg. That's when they met Dr. B. Hudson Berrey.

Instead of amputating Brown's leg, Berrey gave her a leg lengthening implant.

Every three months, the Brown family commutes from Miami to Shands at Jacksonville.

Berrey said the implants have allowed Brown's leg to grow anywhere from 15-16 centimeters over the last six years.

"When her other side stops growing, we'll stop growing this side and see how long this implant lasts. I hope it lasts the rest of her life and I never have to do anything more," Berrey said.

Over the past seven years, Brown has grown quite attached to her doctor.

"He's a part of our family because he's been around since the beginning. If Dr. Berrey moves, I'm going to have to follow him," Brown said.

Last April was a big milestone for the teen as she celebrated five years of being cancer free.

She said it's important to stay positive.

"Many kids have their legs amputated or don't even survive the cancer, so if they can have their leg amputated then I can deal with a little pain because I came very far and overcame a lot of odds and I'm just really blessed," Brown said.

Her next hurdle is high school, and after that she said she plans to attend the University of Florida and become a pediatrician.