Third-grader Harley Guy was born with amniotic band syndrome, a birth defect that means he is missing three fingers on his right hand. Thanks to the collaboration of two teachers and a handful of high school engineering students, Harley will soon have a new hand.
Sam Houston High School engineering design teacher Marielle Myers began looking for projects this summer to conduct in the new class. She came across the Helping Hand Project and wanted her students to participate in creating a hand for a child born with missing fingers.
“My sister, Gabrielle Myers, teaches Harley at Gillis Elementary, and we thought that it would be a great opportunity to contact Harley’s family and see if they would be interested in working with my class,” Myers said.
The class will use 3-D printers to produce the prosthetic hand, which will be customized to fit Harley. Last week Harley went in to visit the students, and Myers took three different molds of his hand in a gooey plaster. Students also took measurements of his hand and wrist to customize the fit of the prosthesis.
This week Myers said her students will work on casting the three molds before they begin brainstorming and customizing the design Harley has chosen. Because the 3-D printers are in Myers’ classroom, she said it allows the students to print test samples and tweak them as necessary.
The students will have to find materials that fit their standards for performance, as well.
Harley last week was able to try on a sample hand that Myers made during the summer. He practiced picking up objects and bending the fingers and took it home with him over the weekend.
Mandy Hooper, Harley’s mother, said Harley has adapted to not having the three fingers on his right hand and can do most anything he puts his mind to. But, she said, this prosthetic hand will open up new opportunities for him.
“It gives him the opportunity to have fingers and use his right hand with fingers,” she said.
Hooper said Harley has chosen for his 3-D printed hand to have black and glow-in-the-dark pink pieces.
Myers is hoping the prosthesis will be complete by the end of the month and be ready to go home with Harley. A second Calcasieu Parish district student’s family has made contact with Myers about creating a hand for him as well, and Myers said she hopes to work on it soon.
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