“A seven-year-old boy born without an arm has been able to hold a fishing rod with two hands for the first time,” after getting a $17,000 bionic arm. It was a dream come true for Alex Sparkes, a boy born with one arm missing, who spent birthdays “wishing his arm would grow”, only to be left heartbroken when he was told it wasn’t possible.
He was given the prosthetic arm by a kindly English plumber, James Anderson, 55, who was touched by Alex’s plight.
Since getting his bionic arm, Alex has been able to put toothpaste on his toothbrush for the first time and will be able to learn how to tie his shoelaces.
His father Robin says of his son, “With his new arm, he’s a lot more independent, I don’t have to be there by his side all the time with the fishing rod or by the bankside. I’m confident in the knowledge he can handle the rod on his own and he’s able to catch his own fish. I had to constantly be there whenever he handled the rod, especially if he had a decent-sized fish on, just in case the weight pulled on his right arm. But now I can take a bit of a step back and watch over his shoulder as he’s fishing rather than having to constantly having to manage him with it. We’re realizing what he couldn’t do before, rather than what he can do now. He’s becoming that more independent in and around the house, but also outside the house.”
Alex said his arm is “amazing.” He continues, “I can now pick up stuff. I like that I can hold the rod. I feel happy when I’m fishing, I’ve got two hands and I can reel the rod.”
