Disabled Toddler Gains Strength With Help From Robotic Device

By Daily Mail Reporter

Credit: Emma Lavelle

Disabled Toddler Gains Strength With Help From Robotic Device

August 5, 2012 Updated Aug 5, 2012 at 11:23 AM PDT

For the first time in her short life, 2-year-old Emma can lift up her arms all by herself.

Emma suffers from arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, a condition that affects her muscle strength.

With the help of a set of 'magical arms' that were made with a 3D exoskeleton printer, the toddler now has the strength to draw and pick things up.

'When she was born, her legs were up by her ears and her shoulders were internally rotated,' Emma's mother Megan Lavelle said

Slowly, but surely, Emma started to develop. But, as she grew, she did not gain enough strength to move her arms.

Then, her parents learned about WREX, a device made of hinged metal bars and resistance bands

The device enables kids with underdeveloped arms to play, feed themselves and hug, according to Stratasys, the 3D printing company that helped produce Emma's personalized WREX.

Because Emma only weighs 25lbs, a special, light weight WREX was made for her with a 3D printer.

Her parents put it on her and what happened next was nothing short of incredible.

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