Hi my name is Alisha Grace Horne and I would be so grateful if you could please help me crowdfund for a Hero Arm.

When I was born, my left hand didn’t form as it should, this is because when I was inside my mum’s tummy, the blood couldn’t circulate properly to my left hand and it couldn’t form as it should.

It first came to me that I was different to others was when I started primary school. I realised that people would look at me more and stare at my left hand and I would get questions that I had not had or heard before, it was weird at the start as I had young and older people asking me questions saying why do I have a different hand, some of the older kids would laugh and be mean. I found it hard when young kids said that my hand looks like a foot, I don’t see how and I understand that they are only kids but it can be very upsetting.

My parents and I then started to go to the Mobility Centre at Nottingham City Hospital, where they started fitting me with prosthetics that just looked like a normal hand, they looked kinda realistic but it still wasn’t right for me. The fingers wouldn’t move unless you used force to move them manually but then I didn’t want to force them as I was scared they was going to break.

They also made me a bike sleeve, as I loved riding bikes and it was hard for me to get a strong grip, but they used to get very warm and it made my arm sweaty and it would come out in a rash and I had to reduce the time I went out for a ride. I also got a attachment to help me learn how to play a guitar (still needs plenty of practice).

In late 2018 early 2019 we contacted TeamUnlimited run by Steven Davies, we saw the work that they did making 3D printed hands and we got in touch to see if it was possible for me to have one. I soon got one and the arm was made in my favourite colour yellow and had my motto ‘Always believe’ printed on it. I loved the hand but sadly my arm grew too big for it. I really liked it but the fingers couldn’t move individually so I couldn’t quite make my hand look like a love heart or a thumbs up shape.

I would like a hero arm as when I look at people I see them doing stuff that I find hard. Sometimes it’s hard trying to fit in, not with my personality but how I look. Sometimes people find it hard to be friends with me, mainly when we are hanging around with their friends as they don’t want to be embarrassed because of my left hand. When I look at people and I watch them doing stuff, that I can’t do because I haven’t got a left hand, it can be upsetting inside. At times it can be hard when l have to do an activity or when family or friends would like to hold my hand and they can’t hold my right hand as I’m using it so they have to hold my left hand and they are scarred of hurting it or don’t know how to hold it.

How it would help me? You can check out the Hero Arm here: -

It will help me in different kinds of ways. Some being as simple as using a knife and fork at the same time, being able to cut my tea or hold more than one thing knowing it won’t fall. When I’m getting dressed I won’t have to struggle fastening my buttons or zips. Hopefully it can help when I’m climbing and using ropes or chains and they won’t rub on my arm and make it sore. Hopefully it will help me riding my bike and playing sports like tennis. I have a guitar and want to learn how to play the electric keyboard because at the moment I find it hard pressing the keys. Also hopefully it will give me a firm grip on anything I try to hold.

What I’m looking forward to do with my hero arm is to do the basic shapes that I mentioned above saying like doing a love heart shape or a thumbs up or even play Rock Paper Scissors. I will also look forward to showing it of to my friends and be able to hold my head high. I also look forward to holding things so I’ll have less chance of dropping stuff. In the past I’ve had just a normal prosthetics. Simple hands and fingers that couldn't move unless you used force on them. I also had bike sleeve attachments so I could ride my bike and I have them still now but I’m not able to use for long periods of time.

The reason why they haven’t quite worked for me is because the simple hands from the mobility centre in Nottingham made my hand all hot and sweaty, as they had like a foam cast then the actual hand. The 3D Hand from TeamUnlimited hand is to small for me now. The difference from my normal prosthetics to a hero arm is the fact that the hero arm can do so much more like, being able to move the fingers individually and make funny shapes I.e the thumbs up or a heart. I think wearing a hero arm would feel weird to start of with but when I start wearing it more, it will feel fine in terms of how it feels physically. I also think it will make me feel happier as I can do more stuff and I also think it will make me feel like I fit in a bit more, I know it will make it more obvious that I haven’t got a proper left hand but knowing that I have fingers that can move and all that, it would be so great.

I think at first it might take a while for people to get use to seeing me with a hero arm as they might not of seen one before or seen close up or in real life. I think I might get some questions and snide comments but that is nothing I’m not used to. All my life I’ve had a partial left hand. It’s all I’ve ever known and I love my hand and wouldn’t want to change but just to have a little help now and again would be awesome!!! Thanks for taking time to read and if you can support my campaign in any way I would really appreciate it. xxxx

I am raising money through the Open Bionics Foundation for my Hero Arm and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about The Open Bionics Foundation: The Open Bionics Foundation provides financial support to socioeconomically deprived people with limb differences who need multi-grip upper limb prosthetics.