Girl, 7, born without hand can finally brush her hair and catch a ball thanks to revolutionary £20 3D printed limb

A SCHOOLGIRL born without a hand is now able to catch a ball and brush her hair after her devoted aunt helped develop a 3D printed digital limb – for just £20.

Little Phoebe Dyer had struggled throughout her life with simple tasks after being born without a left hand. But now the seven-year-old is able to live life to the full after boffins developed a £20 plastic limb for her which works just like a normal arm.

Little Phoebe can now brush her own hair

Phoebe was given a prosthetic at nine months old but it did not move and only served to help with hand and eye coordination.

She later used a split hook around the age of five which still didn’t function like a real hand, but her life was changed when she was given the cutting edge new limb.

The youngster, who lives with mum Julie, 35, dad Keith, 36, and brother Jacob, four, in Hazel Grove, Cheshire, said: “I really like it, all my friends think it’s so cool.

“When I first put it on it was a bit weird, because it works just like my right hand, but now I’m used to it. It was really weird because I was able to hold a knife and fork for the first time ever. Now I can brush my hair and play catch with it, I love it so much.”

The limb was developed for Phoebe thanks to her aunt Claire Handby, who works for accountancy firm Deloitte.

In October 2016 Claire visited a 3D printing event and saw an adult limb. She contacted the firm’s self-styled chief disruptor Ed Greig and they embarked on a mission to create a limb for Phoebe.

To see her shake my brother’s hand with her left hand, for the first time in their lives, was priceless

Using just three measurements and software created by Charity Team UnLimbited, they were able to create a limb. The device is made with plastic and string and uses the kinetic energy from her elbow movement to make the ligaments close the fingers.

Mum Julie is delighted with the limb and now wants the NHS to consider rolling out the technology so that more children can benefit.

She said: “It’s just amazing to see how much confidence it has given Phoebe. She used to hide her hand, now she can’t wait to show all her friends. The great thing is 3D printing makes it so cheap. The NHS can’t afford to spend thousands on bionic hands for children because they are already growing.

“Phoebe has had nine different hands in two years because she is growing – but they only cost £20 each because they are printed.”

Phoebe has had the hands custom-designed for her and designs have included a troll theme, a Disney Frozen look and a special Man United edition for when she was a mascot at Old Trafford last month.

Aunt Claire said: “To see her shake my brother’s hand with her left hand, for the first time in their lives, was priceless. It’s something our family will never forget. Phoebe has gone from being the child that is identified as a victim to the cool kid – her friends say they wish they had a hand like hers.”