The life of a three-year-old girl born with no fingers on one hand has been transformed by a 3D printed prosthesis.
Now, just like any other small child, Brooke Jackson can do things such as pick up her toys with two hands, thanks to the mechanical device which operates with her wrist movements. What’s more it was made free of charge.
Mum Nichola Hayes said: “I think I’m even more excited than her for the pure fact that she can hold stuff, like a cup, properly with both hands.”
Brooke was born with symbrachydactyly, a condition which left her with a small thumb and nubbins instead of fingers on her left hand.
The condition affects about one in 32,000 births and is thought to be caused by an interruption in blood supply.
After turning down medical experts’ offer of a toe to hand transfer, Brooke’s dad James and Nichola were resigned to there being no other solution.
That was before Nichola’s attention was brought to a magazine article about a girl assisted by E-Nable, a global network of volunteers making free assistive devices.
She contacted the girl’s mum via Facebook and just two weeks after sending off photographs of Brooke’s hands, maker Drew Murray delivered the robohand to their Fleet home on Saturday.
Brooke has quickly taken to using it and bounded off to Small Saints Pre-School in Holbeach on Monday.
Nichola said: “She’s already very keen on it and won’t let anyone else touch it!
“I’m now looking forward to her riding a bike this summer because she’ll be safer.”
Grateful Nichola is considering doing a fundraising event such as a skydive to show her appreciation.
