Malcolm Taylor doesnB次元官网网址檛 mind talking about his arm.

YouB次元官网网址檙e not going to bring up anything the 14-year-old from the rural southern Vancouver Island community of Cobble Hill hasnB次元官网网址檛 already heard.

B次元官网网址淚 have had every kind of question,B次元官网网址� he assures.

A Grade 9 student at Frances Kelsey Secondary School, Taylor was born with just one hand, his left arm ending just a little bit above the elbow. Last year, he was fitted with a myoelectric arm, which can sense muscle impulses and allows him to open and close the hand simply by flexing the muscles in his residual limb.

Taylor has had different non-electrical prosthetics in the past, and a previous electrical one, but this is the best one heB次元官网网址檚 ever had. ItB次元官网网址檚 not quite state-of-the-art, he says, but itB次元官网网址檚 the best in terms of price and functionality.

The arm was paid for by the War Amps CHAMP program. The War Amps began more than 100 years ago to assist war amputee veterans returning from the First World War. It has expanded its programs over the years to support all amputees.

B次元官网网址淭hey pay for all my prosthetics,B次元官网网址� Taylor points out. B次元官网网址淚t makes life a lot easier.B次元官网网址�

Taylor received his current prosthetic about six months ago after working with beta versions before that. The process involved having a cast taken from his arm, getting the prosthetic custom-fitted, and having the electrodes fine-tuned. The work is done by a prosthesist, and isnB次元官网网址檛 invasive.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no surgery,B次元官网网址� Taylor explains. B次元官网网址淚 can take it on and off at any time.B次元官网网址�

The many steps were worth it for the new arm.

B次元官网网址淚 can do a lot more things than I could with the other one,B次元官网网址� Taylor says.

The myoelectric arm allows for gripping motions that TaylorB次元官网网址檚 previous prostetics didnB次元官网网址檛, like grabbing a stick.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e tried throwing things but with little success,B次元官网网址� he says, adding that would change with practice. It definitely makes a difference that he grew up without a hand.

B次元官网网址淚t would probably be easier for someone who has had a hand before to get the hang of it,B次元官网网址� he says.

TaylorB次元官网网址檚 previous prosthetics didnB次元官网网址檛 have nearly as much going for them.

B次元官网网址淗ave you seen a hook hand in a pirate movie?B次元官网网址� he asks. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not inaccurate.B次元官网网址�

He couldnB次元官网网址檛 have picked up a medical face mask with the old one, for example. And the new one works well enough that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 have to put one thing down to pick another up.

B次元官网网址淚t takes away that extra step thatB次元官网网址檚 always annoying,B次元官网网址� he says.

Taylor will have to get a new prosthetic, eventually, but he can probably get this one refitted before that happens.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e supposed to be very tight,B次元官网网址� he relates. B次元官网网址淪o you grow out of them really quickly.B次元官网网址�

Other kids at school definitely approve of this one.

B次元官网网址淭hey think itB次元官网网址檚 really cool,B次元官网网址� Taylor says.

Not only is he not shy about discussing the arm, he admits he may even show off from time to time.

B次元官网网址淚 can punch walls,B次元官网网址� he says with a mischievous laugh. B次元官网网址淪o I do that occasionally.B次元官网网址�

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