6-year-old gets new arm from 3-D printer

BAY COUNTY, MI (WNEM) — A kindergarten student is receiving an incredible gift – a new arm.

Prosthetic limbs typically cost thousands of dollars, but Brayden Armstrong’s new arm cost less than $50 all thanks to a Missouri man and his 3-D printer.

“I like it very much,” 6-year-old Brayden said.

He got a new left arm fit for a super hero on Thursday, all thanks to Andy Sosnowski who used his 3-D printer to create it.

“I got a hold of all the materials I needed to do it through enabling the future.org. They have all the instructions and materials needed on their website,” Sosnowski said.

Two weeks later it was finished. He said this is the first time he’s made a prosthetic and it was a success.

“[I’m] feeling really good about it. I think Brayden is going to be happy with it,” Sosnowski said.

Brayden’s mom said a prosthetic arm can cost $16,000 or more and she is happy with the results.

“I am so thankful and so grateful for the generosity. It’s an answered prayer, it really is,” said Ashley Clayton, Brayden’s mom.

Clayton said Brayden was born without his left arm and hasn’t used a prosthetic since he was a baby. She said she is thankful for Janel Caverly, Brayden’s teacher at Bangor West Elementary.

Caverly thought of the idea and scouted out Sosnowski. She said she’s happy to do this for such a great student.

“Brayden comes to my class every day with a smile on his face. He does his best, he works hard and he never complains. And I teach technology and part of the class is to do some robotics. And when Brayden came, I wanted to know how far we could go for Brayden,” Caverly said.

“He catches onto things so quickly and I’m so thrilled and I can’t wait to see what he can do with it,” Caverly said.