This December, three children feel pure joy about ‘the best Christmas present in the world’.
Ettie Baker, 8, Zoey Hampton-Pigeon, 8, and Finn Jarvis, 11, all received “life-changing” bionic arms this week courtesy of the Big Hero 3 campaign.
The campaign was launched by a mother named Sarah Lockey, whose own daughter struggled with physical problems children with missing limbs fundraising for bionic weapons, SWNS news agency reported.
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Ettie Baker’s mother, Alyse, said her daughter “screamed” when she learned she had a new arm at Christmas this year.
“Ettie has always shown so much love for her differences and loves to celebrate differences,” mother Alyse Baker said of her daughter.
Ettie Baker, left, is shown with her new Hero Arm from Open Bionics. (SWNS)
But as the child grows older, “she becomes more and more aware of how different she is,” the mother said.
“She becomes more and more aware of the looks when (she) is outside (among people) and is sometimes frustrated that she cannot do things the same way (way) as everyone else, so having the opportunity to have a Hero Arm can be received life changing for Ettie in so many ways.”
The Hero Arm is intended for people with a limb difference below the elbow.
The mother said her daughter is happy she can do this misuselace her shoes and even do handstands.
“As parents, we are also excited about these things, as well as all the other ways the Hero Arm will change Ettie’s life.”
Ettie Baker, Finn Jarvis and Zoey Pidgeon-Hampton, from left to right, with their new bionic arms they received for Christmas this year. (SWNS)
The mother added: “We are absolutely over the moon to be working together” with other families and their children.
The Open Bionics Foundation – which provides financial support to people needing multi-grip upper limb prosthetics – as well as The Worshipful Company of The Glovers, Foresight Group and an anonymous donor have all contributed more than $50,000 towards the new bionic arms of the children, SWNS reported. .
It is considered “the most affordable advanced multi-grip prosthetic arm in the world.”
The Hero Arm is for people with a leg deformity below the elbow, the Open Bionics Foundation indicates on its website.
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The device is considered “the most affordable advanced multi-grip prosthetic arm in the world, with multi-grip functionality and powerful aesthetics,” the foundation also notes.
“Designed and manufactured in Britain, the Hero Arm is a custom lightweight and… affordable myoelectric prosthesisnow available in more than 801 locations across the U.S. for below-elbow amputee adults and children ages 8 and older.
One father described the opportunity for his daughter to receive the bionic arm as “amazing.” (SWNS)
Much of the money raised so far came about because the three families worked together.
Thomas, father of Zoey Hampton-Pigeon, 8, said his daughter was so excited when she heard the news about her new arm that she “jumped up and down squeaking.”
He described the opportunity for her as “amazing.”
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The family found out their daughter would be born with a limb difference her twenty-week ultrasound scan.
The father said: “It was a very scary and emotional time because I didn’t know what to expect… When Zoey was born she saw several specialists but there are no answers as to why this happened… It’s just one of those things.”
“I want to support others who are going through the same thing.”
He described his daughter today as a “very cheerful, caring, confident and adventurous girl.”
She is “always on the go,” he said. She is a member of a gymnastics club, takes swimming lessons and enjoys trampolining, he noted.
With her new arm, she’s looking forward to jumping rope, her father said.
Zoey Pidgeon-Hampton, 8 years old, receives her new bionic arm. (SWNS)
He also said that she “struggles with everyday tasks like tying her shoes, using a knife and fork” and more – and that the new bionic arm will “make such a huge difference to her independence.”
Mother Sarah Lockey was originally inspired to create the campaign, which is now in its fourth run, after her daughter lost her hand to meningitis at just 15 months old.
“It changed my world,” she told SWNS, “and I vowed that one day I would get Tilly’s hand back. She now wears two hero arms every day – so I want to support others who are going through the same thing.”
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Lockey said the campaign helps remove it some of the tension of crowdfunding for families.
“It’s just incredible that three kids are benefiting from this and their families are all meeting and raising money together,” she said.
With this opportunity, “the opportunities for him to excel are endless,” said the father of young Finn Jarvis, 11, pictured above. (SWNS)
Finn Jarvis, the third child to receive a bionic arm, is described by his loved ones as “the boss of the family.”
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He was born without one hand, apparently the result of… a car accident his mother was involved before his birth.
Dad Ben Jarvis said: “Finn is a fun-loving boy. He is friendly, fearless and extremely excitable. He is now 11… With this opportunity of a Big Hero Arm, the opportunities for him to excel are endless,” as SWNS reported.
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Lockey also said the campaign is “her ‘favorite thing’ to do – and it was a joy for the kids to meet and have such a life-changing opportunity.”
