RIDING a bike and playing with blocks are things most five-year-olds take for granted.
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But for Manilla boy Rhys Kaluder these activities will become a whole lot easier, after he received a new prosthetic arm.
Rhys was born without a left hand and has used an upper-limb prosthesis since he was six months old.
But his new $18,000 myoelectric prosthesis, provided by Variety the Children’s Charity, has been specially designed to allow him to hold items in a way he couldn’t before.
It is controlled by his upper muscles and can adjust the grip strength, based on the type of object.
The prosthesis, unlike others, also has no shoulder harness, so it can be operated in more positions.
Rhys’s mother, Calli, said her son was still learning to use the prosthesis, having only had it for about five weeks.
But she expected it to become more useful once he learnt how to use it properly.
Mrs Kaluder said they would not have been able to purchase the prosthesis if not for Variety.
“We were very touched they did that for us,” she said.