Little Darcie-May dreams of becoming a ballerina… and she is just one of many kids whose lives could be transformed if the Government funds bionic limbs on the NHS this month.
The two-year-old lost her arm and several fingers after a stroke and struggles to do basic things such as eating with her hands. She uses her feet to compensate.
At present, the NHS routinely provides fake arms that look the part but cannot move – leaving families to fundraise £12,000 for each “bionic” prosthetic limb that can function.
NHS England says it has to consider “whether [the limb] represents the best use of NHS resources”.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel with the NHS is set to decide at the end of August whether to routinely commission “multi-grip” upper limb prosthetics.
Alex Ferris, the dad of Darcie-May, said: “I would urge them to make the right decision.
The 29-year-old, from Parr, Cornwall, added: “The ones from the NHS are just for appearance – they don’t supply a grip function.
“They are just so if you are walking down the street it looks like you’ve got that limb.
“But I’d rather it looked like a fake arm and you can actually use it. They are not cheap but I’m sure there are more expensive things on the NHS which are recognised as being needed so why not limbs?”
The family met Marshall Janson, 14, from Perranporth, who lost all four limbs after contracting meningitis when he was just a year old.
His condition was described as the worst doctor had ever seen. The brave lad recently got a taste of fame when heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury gave him a hug after one of his title defences.
The teenager’s mum, Steph Janson, 42, fundraised for her son’s arm which the UK makers, Open Bionics, say can turn “disabilities into superpowers”.
Steph said: “The equipment on the NHS is limited.
“We really should not have to battle for everything. There are so many amputees who are fundraising for specialised equipment.”
Marshall added: “It makes such a difference. I can hold on to things.
“I’m a lot happier and I can spend more time with friends. It makes it a lot easier and I’m less frustrated.”
Colin Trevorrow, who helped fundraise for Marshall and is now trying to help Darcie-May, added: “No child should be struggling to feed themselves when the technology is there but it is unaffordable without fundraising.”
