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FINDLAY, Ohio (AP) — When Addy Johnson twirls and dances around her Findlay living room, it's obvious the 20-month-old has an affection for the color pink and her Finding Nemo stuffed animal.
But when the toddler asks her mother, Tiffany, to hold her, only one hand is outstretched.
Addy was born with a rare congenital condition called Symbrachydactyly. Because of her condition, her right hand never fully developed.
However, a group of students at Van Buren High School are helping make Addy's life a little easier by using a three-dimensional printer to build her a plastic prosthetic hand, at no charge.
"She's a sweet little girl, and knowing that we can make a difference means a lot to us," said Issac Sexton, a senior at Van Buren.
Sexton, along with eight other students and their teacher Mike Daniels, were approached by Tiffany eight weeks ago about making the prosthetic hand. Daniels instructs an advanced design class at Van Buren that's made up of mostly senior students. Daniels said the students are encouraged to take on projects that challenge them.
The students didn't hesitate to help Addy, Daniels said.
"This is something that these guys really enjoy doing. I've been really impressed by how they've taken this on," Daniels said.
Tiffany is a 2005 graduate of Van Buren, so when she learned that plans for prosthetic three-dimensional hands were available online, she immediately thought of her alma mater and approached Daniels with the idea.
The students took measurements of Addy's left hand, printed a three-dimensional version of a right hand and assembled it.
The 3D printer produces layers of material which are blended together to create a three-dimensional product.
The hand attaches to Addy's arm with a Velcro band, and when she flexes her elbow, she's able to pick up objects.
Both Tiffany and Daniels said the current prosthetic hand is a little too big, but the goal of the first hand was to see if Addy would be willing to use it.
"She'll put it on and wear it for 15 to 10 minutes at a time," Tiffany said. "Of course, I never want to force her to do anything or wear anything that she doesn't want to tolerate. But she's been pretty adaptable so far."
Students are already working to build her a smaller hand that has more flexibility.
Tiffany said she's been "blown away" with how the students have worked with Addy during the process.
"I'll admit, I was nervous about it at first because this is a class full of mostly senior boys. But they have really got down on Addy's level and have been great with her," Tiffany said. "And Mr. Daniels has been just a sweetheart with her through all of this, too."
Tiffany said she and her husband were unaware of Addy's condition until she was born.
"It was very hard in the beginning. It took me a long time to be OK with her limb difference. At the time, it felt like I was the only one going through it," Tiffany said.
Comments from other people were also hard to cope with at first.
"We've had some hard experiences. When she was younger and we were visiting a zoo, a little kid saw her hand and started screaming, 'she doesn't have a hand.' It was still so new, it was jarring to me when strangers would say stuff like that. Now, I'm trying to make it a point to educate people who make those comments."
Tiffany said eventually she was able to network with other parents who have children with Symbrachydactyly.
"It's always nice to know that you're not alone," she said.
Tiffany said Addy has good range of motion with her elbow, which is why she hasn't experimented with prosthetics until now. But Tiffany wants to make sure Addy has options available to her as she grows older.
Using a three-dimensional printer to make prosthetic hands for Addy as she grows is a convenient and relatively inexpensive option until Addy decides if she wants to use a prosthetic hand.
"I think we will continue with the 3D and with the students at Van Buren until we decide if we definitely want something more advanced and permanent. I want this to be her choice. A lot of kids with this condition are adapted so well, they don't even want a prosthetic.
"Until she's old enough to tell us yes or no, this is something we'll continue to do," Tiffany said.
Addy's connection to her Finding Nemo stuffed animal is unique, Tiffany said.
"Nemo has a 'lucky fin,' and so does Addy. We call it her lucky fin because she's perfect the way she is. That helps other children better understand her condition, too, when I explain it to them that way."
A Michigan woman started the "Lucky Fin" project, which was designed as a support group for parents and their children who have Symbrachydactyly. Tiffany said the project has helped answer questions about how to cope with the condition.
For the students at Van Buren, this is a project they won't forget anytime soon, Daniels said.
"It's something to be proud of, watching your kids do something that you didn't know they were capable of," he said.
The class has already started its next project for Addy.
This time the hand will be pink, at Addy's request, Daniels said.
"She wanted a pink hand, and that's exactly what that little girl is going to get," he said.
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Information from: The Courier, http://www.thecourier.com
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