A toddler who lost her arms and legs to meningitis as a baby has taken her first steps on new prosthetic limbs.

Proud mum Freya Hall screamed with joy as her daughter Harmonie-Rose walked into her arms for the first time.

She said the three-year-old asked for them to be decorated with unicorns “because they are magic and will help me walk”.

The £10,000 limbs were bought with money raised via the Hope 4 Harmonie fund.

Her mother, from Foxhill, Bath said: “We are so thankful as without these donations we wouldn’t be where we are today.”



The loss of a body part such as a limb poses a significant burden on the individual and his close relatives. Prosthesis are artificial devices used to replace missing body parts. With an artificial limb, an individual can achieve most of the tasks sub-served by the lost limb. Oscar Pistorius known as the ‘Blade runner’ was able to participate in the Olympics with transtibial prosthetic limb. In 2013, another toddler, Ted also took his first steps with the help of artificial limbs.

The alternative to prosthesis is limb transplant which which requires donors and highly specialized team of doctors. In July 2017, Zion, a 9 year old had the first double hand transplant. The surgery led by Dr. Levin, involved 40 people and lasted 10 and a half hours.

Thousands of babies born with deformities and adults that may have lost limbs to trauma need artificial limbs to improve the quality of life. However, the high cost and limited access leaves thousands without artificial limbs worldwide. A new prosthetic limb costs between $5000 and $50,000, which puts it out of the reach of persons in developing countries. Recently, a team of engineers found a way of bringing the cost down to $20. This involved the use of medical grade plastics. However, it may take some time before this is readily available in the market. According to the researchers,

The device that we have actually undercuts the cost of the average prosthetic tenfold, that actually allows, financially, 80 percent of amputees to have access to our product.

Another method is the use of 3D printing, which has been used to successful produce artificial limbs too.

No doubt, prosthetic limbs are part of the huge benefits of technological advancements, giving hope to thousands of individuals without limbs on account of trauma or infection

What more can be done to improve access to artificial limbs?


http://www.healthx24.com/artificial-limbs-toddlers-step/