Smith was attempting to fix the brakes on a friend’s bike, and rode down a ramp behind his house to test them. Realizing that he would crash into the house, he put his arms out to brace himself for impact, and his right hand went through a glass window. He was dangling over the ground, his arm trapped by broken glass, but when he pulled it out to free himself, he severed two nerves and a main artery. Luckily his parents were nearby and rushed quickly to his aid.
“I screamed and my mum and dad came running,” Smith said. “They grabbed tea towels and tied them around my arm to apply pressure.”
They drove to nearby Ilkeston Community Hospital; by the time Smith arrived, he had lost five pints of blood. After a tourniquet was applied, Smith was transported to Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham, where he was taken to the operating room for a seven-hour reconstructive surgery. The next day he had another operation after suffering a blood clot, but doctors were able to save his arm.
Smith said, “Before both of my operations they told me that it was very likely that I would lose my arm and when I came out of the second surgery and looked down I saw that my arm was still there so that was an instant relief. I was in intensive care and stayed in hospital for four days after that. I came home with a big cast on and now I wear a splint.”
“We were just talking about what we were going to do about my GCSE coursework and Mr Wheldon said he had an idea,” Smith explained. “He said he could design a finger and use the 3D printer in school to make it.”
The 3D printed plastic finger that Wheldon made attaches to the end of Smith’s splint, which he has to wear for the next 18 months. He’ll be able to complete his GCSEs with little trouble now, as the 3D printed finger implement means he can type using both hands.
“He drilled a hole into the end of my splint and it fits in there; it’s pretty amazing,” Smith said.
Wheldon was glad he was able to help Smith out with a solution for his exams.
“It only took about 15 minutes to design and print it out. We’ve made a few prototypes and we are still finalising the design,” Wheldon said. “I think it’s been a big help. We’ve still got to work out how he will do the practical part of his GCSE but hopefully having the finger, which we call Claw 5, will have a big impact. He’s such a resilient young man.”
Doctors tell Smith that once the nerves in his right hand have re-grown, he may only regain 40-70% of the feeling back, but that’s not slowing him down. He’s making sure to keep up with his regular check-ups at the hospital, and will be going on a World Challenge trip to Nepal this July with the school, which Wheldon is leading.
“I think the finger is fantastic and it’s given Oliver more independence as he will have to learn to do everything with his left hand now,” said Smith’s mom, Lucy. “Mr Wheldon has been brilliant; he’s been so supportive of Oliver and really taken him under his wing.”
“It’s made life much easier although it’s taken a while to get used to. I’m really grateful to him; he’s gone above and beyond what I’d expect a teacher to do. My product design GCSE is 60% coursework and I can type now so hopefully I’ll be able to complete it,” Smith said.
To hear the story in Smith and Wheldon’s own words, check out the video below:
Discuss in the 3D Printed Prosthetic Finger forum at 3DPB.com.
[Source/Images: Derby Telegraph]