High school students build prosthetic hand for 9-year-old girl

ROCKFORD, IL. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Students at a high school in Illinois used a 3-d printer to give a 9-year-old girl an unforgettable gift.

Kylie Wicker was born without fingers on her left hand. While she has always tried to keep a positive attitude about her situation, sometimes it hasn't been easy.

"She has always been pretty positive about it, but lately when she was breaking down, it was kind of hard," said Jeromy Wicker, Kylie's father.

Jeromy read about a way to make fingers on a plastic printer so he asked the engineering graphics teacher at Boylan High School for help.

Bud May's class designed a prosthetic hand that works through the movement in Kylie's wrists.

"The flexible cords make the fingers stand out when you bend the wrist forward the length gets longer and the cables force the hand to grasp," May explained.

Kylie's mother said the price for a prosthetic is usually between $20,000 and $50,000, but the 9-year-old would grow out of them. May said the prosthetic built by the class cost them barely $5.00.

"There is maybe $1.00 worth of plastic and it costs a couple of bucks for the fasteners," said May.

Kylie is excited to finally be able to ride her bike. She expects to receive her new prosthetic by Friday.

Cox Media Group