College Heights SS ‘Helping Hands’ club makes prosthetic hand for 7-year-old boy
March 2, 2018
GUELPH, Ontario – Thanks to a group of dedicated students and staff at College Heights Secondary School, a 7-year-old boy is the proud recipient of a new prosthetic hand.
The “Helping Hands” club consists of CHSS students Angus, Sawyer, Jacob and Christiaunna, Teacher-Librarian Sarah Wyche and Manufacturing teacher Aaron Meyer.
For the past several weeks, the club has been manufacturing a 3D-printed hand using a design provided to them free of charge and a 3D printer provided by Kitchener’s InkSmith.
On March 1, 7-year-old Jordan came to CHSS with his mother Melissa and younger brother Alex for a special event. “Helping Hands” students presented Jordan with his new prosthetic hand, made in striking gold and red for his love of the character Iron Man.
Jordan was born with only a thumb on his left hand. The new prosthetic hand will allow him to do things that some may take for granted, like catching a ball or more easily riding a bike.
A key member of the project team who was also at CHSS on Thursday is Jerry Ennett, a Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Guelph. For the past three years, Jerry has been perfecting the design for a printable prosthetic hand, made of nylon or plastic with tension cables to activate the fingers. The UGDSB’s SHSM/Technological Education Curriculum Lead Charles Benyair saw the great work Jerry was doing and got in touch to propose working together with UGDSB students.
Through the process, Jerry has been working with Jordan to take measurements for the prosthetic hand and take him through physiotherapy exercises. Following the presentation, Jerry will continue to work with Jordan at home, to ensure the proper fit of the hand and continue exercises to build up his strength and dexterity.
The “Helping Hands” club is one of many ways that CHSS shows its commitment to building community relationships and giving students real-life experiences. Christiaunna described the experience as exciting and fulfilling, knowing that their efforts would benefit people in the community.
The school hopes to keep the momentum going and produce more prosthetic hands for those in need. Way to go Huskies!
