9-year-old born without a hand gets 3D-printed arm just before Christmas

Being born with disabilities can be agonising for a child and can make the best years of life an ordeal. But medical science and technology joining hands has meant that a large number of people with rare ailments are receiving help and hope for a better life.

Nine-year-old Josh Daly from Bristol was born with his left arm missing and he got the perfect Christmas present this year. The brave child was fitted with a new 3D-printed arm and can now open Christmas presents and pull crackers with his sister.

Josh is elated and can’t stop smiling as the new hand means that he can do a lot more. A scan after 20 weeks of pregnancy showed that Josh was missing a hand and there was no explanation as to why this happened inside the womb.

His parents met a plastic surgeon before his birth and he said he will try and create an arm for Josh from his toes. But the couple wanted to wait and see how Josh would cope before coming to a decision.

As he grew up, Josh learned to crawl, pick up and throw things as he decided against wearing a prosthetic arm. But he read about 3D-printed arms on the internet this year and expressed a desire to try one.