Kenzie's Helping Hands

I was recently introduced to the best job in the world, a small animal orthopedist. One aspect of this career path is the development of prosthetics for small animals, such as dogs and cats. I would absolutely love to combine my love for animals and engineering in the near future! In fact, animal prosthetics are also under the transition of becoming more 3D printed oriented. Here’s the section in American Kennel Club’s recent issue I fell in love with: 

Yesterday, I was awarded with the privilege of talking to the University of Southern Indiana high school girls STEM camp participants about what I do with 3D printing. I introduced them to the journey that led me to e-NABLE and how I began to get involved with their community. It was so awesome to see so many of my peers respond with such positivity towards my efforts! Here’s a link to USI’s Facebook post regarding the evening:  Southwest Indiana STEM Resource Center

I believe the most comforting words spoken are “me too.” These words are filled with compassion and empathy. They give a sense of acknowledgement to one’s struggle– that they have been on the same road as you before, and they understand. This is why my classmates and I’s initial awareness campaign for the  Lucky Fin Project  was so utterly important to me. I didn’t discover this community of limb differenced people until I was fifteen years old, and I’ll tell you, I would’ve loved to have had the Lucky Fin Weekend experience under my belt many years before. I think it’s really important that limb different children are acquainted with older limb different individuals so they can be the one to say, “Me too.” Back in April, my classmates and I used $1,500 of the $5,000 we raised for the Lucky Fin Project to fund  Damien’s  fare to  Lucky Fin Weekend . This weekend is an opportunity for families who have someone with a limb difference to get together to share, network, and celebr

Yesterday I made a GoFundMe account in hopes of collecting a little funding from anyone who wanted to give a helping hand. As of now, we are at $570.00. Amazing! I’m so thankful for all of these supporters. I never knew Kenzie’s Helping Hands had such a fan base, although, I am thrilled to have discovered this. The goal is set for $1000.00 because GoFundMe requires a set amount, but in actuality there isn’t a set amount I need to raise. My main intention with the funding is to cover filament costs for 3D printing– as we need to print test hands of every kind– but I’m also looking into finding another outlet to promote more awareness. This time, to a larger audience. Quite honestly, I’m not sure how to initiate this course of action, but I’m going to give it my best effort! If you want to monitor it’s progress, here is the  GoFundMe link

Super stoked! Got approved to fit and print the Phoenix V2 device for clients!

I started a Facebook Page for my e-NABLE chapter. Here it is:  Kenzie’s Helping Hands Enjoy!

Today, JoJo Gentry from 44 News wrote a followup article on the progress Kenzie’s Helping Hands has made. Once again, I’m thrilled at the opportunity of addressing a larger scale audience on the matters of the limb different community. My ultimate goal is to be an influencer towards the ubiquitous issues that plague our community. Examples of such concerns are how the world views the term “disability” and the connotations it possesses that impinge our image, the lack of awareness surrounding the condition of limb loss itself, the deprivation of information given to new parents of limb different children at hospitals, the insufficiency of disability representation in the entertainment and fashion industries, and the inaccessibility of technologically advanced, cost effective prosthetics. That’s my dream, but anyway, here’s the link:  Mount Vernon Soccer Star Gets Approval to Make Hands for Limb Different People

I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to spread limb difference awareness on such a grand platform! JoJo Gentry from 44 News interviewed me about my completion of the e-NABLE Phoenix V2 3D printed hand after viewing my initial Tweet regarding the device. The interview really put in perspective for me just how many people can be reached through the media and how the number of views impacted my continued campaign for limb difference awareness. Every effort made directly promotes the familiarization of our condition. Here’s the link to the interview:  Mt. Vernon Soccer Star with Limb Difference Builds 3D Hand I received so many notes following the interview’s airing, and I’m so grateful for all of the support!

Thanks for joining me! Today I submitted my application for an e-NABLE chapter titled “Kenzie’s Helping Hands”