Malcolm Taylor doesn害羞草研究所檛 mind talking about his arm.

You害羞草研究所檙e not going to bring up anything the 14-year-old from the rural southern Vancouver Island community of Cobble Hill hasn害羞草研究所檛 already heard.

害羞草研究所淚 have had every kind of question,害羞草研究所� 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 he害羞草研究所檚 ever had. It害羞草研究所檚 not quite state-of-the-art, he says, but it害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淭hey pay for all my prosthetics,害羞草研究所� Taylor points out. 害羞草研究所淚t makes life a lot easier.害羞草研究所�

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 isn害羞草研究所檛 invasive.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no surgery,害羞草研究所� Taylor explains. 害羞草研究所淚 can take it on and off at any time.害羞草研究所�

The many steps were worth it for the new arm.

害羞草研究所淚 can do a lot more things than I could with the other one,害羞草研究所� Taylor says.

The myoelectric arm allows for gripping motions that Taylor害羞草研究所檚 previous prostetics didn害羞草研究所檛, like grabbing a stick.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e tried throwing things but with little success,害羞草研究所� he says, adding that would change with practice. It definitely makes a difference that he grew up without a hand.

害羞草研究所淚t would probably be easier for someone who has had a hand before to get the hang of it,害羞草研究所� he says.

Taylor害羞草研究所檚 previous prosthetics didn害羞草研究所檛 have nearly as much going for them.

害羞草研究所淗ave you seen a hook hand in a pirate movie?害羞草研究所� he asks. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not inaccurate.害羞草研究所�

He couldn害羞草研究所檛 have picked up a medical face mask with the old one, for example. And the new one works well enough that he doesn害羞草研究所檛 have to put one thing down to pick another up.

害羞草研究所淚t takes away that extra step that害羞草研究所檚 always annoying,害羞草研究所� he says.

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

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e supposed to be very tight,害羞草研究所� he relates. 害羞草研究所淪o you grow out of them really quickly.害羞草研究所�

Other kids at school definitely approve of this one.

害羞草研究所淭hey think it害羞草研究所檚 really cool,害羞草研究所� Taylor says.

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

害羞草研究所淚 can punch walls,害羞草研究所� he says with a mischievous laugh. 害羞草研究所淪o I do that occasionally.害羞草研究所�

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