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Woman operates bionic hand for the first time - before it's even put on her arm

2024-05-06 886 Dailymotion

Heartwarming video shows a woman born with one arm operating bionic hand for the first time - before it's even been fitted to her arm.<br /><br />Julie Norwood, 53, was born missing her lower left arm and hand.<br /><br />She never let it hold her back - and found alternative ways to do everyday tasks such as driving and cooking by relying on her right hand.<br /><br />But the mum-of-two, from Broadstairs, Kent, began to develop arthritis in 2020.<br /><br />Her right hand is now unable to grip and prevents her from doing lots of things - including administering her important medication for her type one diabetes.<br /><br />She was put in touch with Open Bionics last month and got to try a pioneering bionic 'hero arm'.<br /><br />Despite never having operated a bionic arm before, she got the hang of it almost instantly.<br /><br />Sweet video footage shows an amazed Julie moving the fingers using the sensors - before the hand was even put on her arm.<br /><br />Now Julie, who works as a checkout assistant, is trying to raise £20,000 so she can have a hero arm of her own.<br /><br />She said: "I try not to let things stop me, if someone says 'you can't do that', I know it's a challenge and I have to try.<br /><br />"But I've put so much strain on my hand over the years and now its deteriorating quickly.<br /><br />"Not having my other hand makes everything so much harder and I'm so scared I'll lose my independence.<br /><br />"When I went to Open Bionics and tried the arm, I just burst into tears when I moved the fingers.<br /><br />"Getting one of my own would be lifechanging for me."<br /><br />Julie always found ways around challenges growing up as she was missing part of her arm.<br /><br />As well as chopping food, cleaning, driving with an assisted car, and cycling, she had to find clever ways to administer her diabetes medications.<br /><br />But in 2020 she began to notice mobility in her hand decreasing, and more joint pain.<br /><br />Over the years it grew worse and early last year she was put on autoimmune medication for it, but she still suffers.<br /><br />Now, her hand is so arthritic that drawing up her syringe to administer insulin is near impossible.<br /><br />Chopping and cooking food, walking their two dogs and tying up her shoes are now major challenges.<br /><br />She relies on supportive husband Gary Norwood, 54, and children Kieran, 24, and Rhea, 19, but fears she'll lose the independence she fought so hard for growing up.<br /><br />Julie said: "Now I have to use a cup with two handles just to have a coffee - and I can't take the dogs for a walk as I can't hold the lead any more.<br /><br />"I can't grip a kitchen knife any more - Gaz hates the way I cut food because he's terrified the knife will slip."<br /><br />After trialling the Open Bionics hero arm she now dreams of having her own.<br /><br />She said: "When I tried the arm, I cried. I've never seen fingers move on my left hand side.<br /><br />"I saw them move - I don't give a monkey's that I couldn't feel them move - and I thought 'wow, that's me, I did that!'."<br /><br />But at the minute, a £20,000 price tag stands in her way, as Open Bionics arms are not available on the NHS.

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