Drew Daniel, 18, has lived his whole life without a second functional hand. (Photo Credit: Fundrazr)
Eighteen-year-old Drew Daniel from Vancouver is asking for help to buy a new prosthetic hand.
Born without a left hand, the Vancouver teen is currently working full-time and finds that his current prosthetic is only useful for basic tasks like tying shoelaces. Daniel has had multiple prosthetics in his life, and his current one, a myo-electric hand, has only one grip pattern, “the pinch grip”.
However, he's found a new prosthetic called the Bebionic 3 that he thinks could change his life. The prosthetic is the most advanced currently on the market, with a lightweight design and 16 grip patterns. It has individual motors in each fingers, auto grip to sense when an item is slipping, and proportional speed control for delicate tasks like picking up eggs. The downside? With both the hand and a new socket, Daniel would have to pay $28,000.
The Bebionic 3. (Photo Credit: Bebionic)
Daniel has previously received funding from the non-profit War Amps, but he says that no one wants to fund this prosthetic because of its large price tag. Though Daniel has contemplated paying for the hand himself, he calculates that it would reasonably take him a decade to be able to afford it. Instead, Daniel has gone to the people of the internet to ask for their help and he's already raised over $2000.
“If I am able to reach my goal and obtain this new hand, it won't just benefit me,” Daniel says. “It will also benefit other amputees as well. It would certainly help get the ball rolling (in Canada at least) and help set a new standard of prosthetic limbs.”
“I have always wondered what life would be like with a second functional hand ... With the help of each and every one of you who donates, I'm hoping I can make my dreams a reality and be able to live a normal and happy life. That's what I've always wanted.”
To help Drew Daniel out, check out his fundraising campaign. As Daniel says, any amount helps.
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