This December, three children feel pure joy for “the best Christmas gift in the world.”
Ettie Baker, 8, Zoey Hampton-Pigeon, 8, and Finn Jarvis, 11, received “life-changing” bionic arms this week, courtesy of The Big Hero 3 campaign.
Launched by a mother named Sarah Lockey whose own daughter faced physical challenges, the campaign helps families of children missing limbs raise funds for bionic arms, news agency SWNS reported.
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Ettie Baker's mother, Alyse, said her daughter “screamed” when she found out about her new arm for Christmas this year.
“Ettie has always shown a lot of love for her difference and loves celebrating differences,” mother Alyse Baker said of her daughter.
Ettie Baker, left, appears with her new Hero Arm from Open Bionics. (SWNS)
But as the girl grows, “she becomes more and more aware of how different she is,” the mother said.
“She is becoming more aware of the stares when [she’s] outside [among people] and sometimes she feels frustrated because she can't do things the same [way] “Like everyone else, having the opportunity to receive a Hero Arm is life-changing for Ettie in so many ways.”
The Hero Arm is for people who live with a limb difference below the elbow.
The mother said her daughter is thrilled to be able to ride her bike, tie her shoes and even do a handstand.
“As parents, we're excited about these things too, but also about all the other ways Hero Arm will change Ettie's life.”
Ettie Baker, Finn Jarvis and Zoey Pidgeon-Hampton, from left, with their new bionic arms received for Christmas this year. (SWNS)
The mother added: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to work together” with other families and their children.
The Open Bionics Foundation, which provides financial support to people who need multi-grip upper-limb prostheses, as well as The Worshipful Company of The Glovers, Foresight Group and an anonymous donor have contributed more than $50,000 toward the children's new bionic arms , SWNS reported. .
It is considered “the world's most affordable advanced multi-grip prosthetic arm.”
The Hero Arm is for people who live with a limb difference below the elbow, the Open Bionics Foundation says on its website.
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The device is considered “the world's most affordable advanced multi-grip prosthetic arm, with multi-grip functionality and empowering aesthetics,” the foundation also notes.
“Designed and manufactured in Great Britain, the Hero Arm is a lightweight, affordable, custom myoelectric prosthesis, now available at more than 801 locations in the US for adults and children with below-elbow amputations aged 8 years and older.”
One father called the opportunity for his daughter to receive the bionic arm “amazing.” (SWNS)
A large part of the money raised so far came from the joint work of the three families.
Thomas, the father of 8-year-old Zoey Hampton-Pigeon, said his daughter was so excited when she heard the news about her new arm that she was “jumping and squealing.”
She described the opportunity for her as “amazing.”
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The family discovered their daughter would be born with a limb difference at her 20-week scan.
Said the dad: “It was a very scary and emotional time not knowing 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 other people who are going through the same thing.”
She described her daughter today as a “very happy, loving, confident and adventurous girl.”
She is “always on the go,” she said. She is a member of a gymnastics club, takes swimming classes and loves to jump on the trampoline, she said.
With his new arm, he hopes to be able to jump rope, his father said.
Zoey Pidgeon-Hampton, 8, is shown receiving her new bionic arm. (SWNS)
He also said that she “has difficulty with everyday tasks like tying her shoelaces, using a knife and fork” and more, and that the new bionic arm “will make a big difference in her independence.”
Mum Sarah Lockey was originally inspired to create the campaign, now in its fourth run, after her daughter lost her hand to meningitis when she was just 15 months old.
“It changed my world,” she told SWNS, “and I promised that one day I would give Tilly's hand back. Now she uses 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 take some of the stress out of crowdfunding for families.
“It's just amazing to have three kids benefit and have their families come together and fundraise together,” she said.
With this opportunity, “the possibilities for him to excel are endless,” said the father of 11-year-old Finn Jarvis, shown above. (SWNS)
Finn Jarvis, the third child to receive a bionic arm, has been described by loved ones as “the head of the family.”
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He was born without a hand, apparently as a result of a car accident his mother was involved in before his birth.
Father Ben Jarvis said: “Finn is a happy-go-lucky boy. He is kind, fearless and extremely active. He is now 11 years old… With this opportunity for a Big Hero Arm, the possibilities for him to excel are endless.” as SWNS reported.
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Lockey also said the campaign “is their 'favorite thing,' and it has been a pleasure for the kids to learn about and receive a life-changing opportunity.”
