Did you know that a printer can make an artificial hand? Well, a 3D printer can, thanks to some very innovative technology. I had the pleasure of connecting with some New Jersey-based members of a group called e-NABLE (www.enablingthefuture.org) who have a sub-group of their membership who are working on providing prosthetic arms and hands to amputees in Haiti. I met them through a friend of a friend of a friend who asked me if I could help a young man here in Jérémie who had suffered an arm amputation as a result of an electrocution accident last year. His name is Jethro and he goes to the Baptist church that we attend in downtown Jérémie. He is a firm believer and always gives witness to the Lord’s work in his life.
Last week we had a visit from Elinor Meeks and Dante Varotsis from the e-NABLE Haiti group and we met at the Baptist church in Jérémie with 5 young men who were arm amputees in need of prosthetic arms.
The E-NABLE group had some hands and arms to show the group and discussed the technology, which is basically using a 3D printer to build plastic parts that are put together to form a prosthetic hand or arm. It was a fascinating meeting and the potential recipients were thrilled with the idea that they might someday receive a prosthesis.
We are grateful for this visit from Dante and Elinor and look forward to future visits from them and others on the e-NABLE Haiti team. In the meantime, we are putting out the word to find other patients who can benefit from this innovative technology.