For a child born without a hand or fingers, a prosthetic hand can be a lifeline, providing independence and the foundation for them to simply be like any other kid. But those devices typically come with a hefty price tag.
To alleviate families of that financial burden and still give children a life-altering tool, the Tar Heels behind the Carolina chapter of the Helping Hand Project are designing and constructing customized prosthetic limbs for children free of charge using 3D printers.
“It is a second chance for these kids to act ‘normal’ like all other kids that they see around them,” said Daniel Ku, a Carolina senior who is the president of the student group. “To be able to pick up objects with their prosthetic hand that we created for them, it’s night and day for the parents to see their kids do that. Also, with the specific designs that we create for these families,…
