Creating limbs and a new lease on life
Just before Thanksgiving 2013, Mick Ebeling returned home from Sudan’s Nuba Mountains where he set up what is probably the world’s first 3D-printing prosthetic lab and training facility. More to the point of the journey is that Mick managed to give hope and independence back to a kid who, at age 14, had both his arms blown off and considered his life not worth living. Just prior to the trip, the now 16-year-old Daniel was located in a 70,000 person refugee camp in Yida, and, on 11/11/13, he received version 1 of his left arm. The Daniel Hand enabled him to feed himself for the first time in two years.
After Daniel had his own “hand,” with the help of Dr. Tom Catena, an American doctor working under extreme conditions, the team set about teaching 10 others to print and assemble 3D prostheses. By the time the team returned to their homes in the U.S., the local trainees had successfully printed and fitted another two arms, proving the project will have a lasting benefit beyond the team’s presence. That Project Daniel successfully unfolded in a region where a cease-fire had expired (and where fighting has now escalated), and that the people taught to utilise the 3D printers were barely familiar with computers, let alone the idea of 3D printers, is a milestone achievement that bears the potential for global impact. “We’re hopeful that other children and adults in other regions of Africa, as well as other continents around the globe, will utilise the power of this new technology for similar beginnings,” said Not Impossible founder Mick Ebeling.
Marks organization ‘Not Impossible’ believes in technology for the sake of humanity. By utilizing crowd-sourcing to crowd-solve healthcare issues, Not Impossible aims to provide low-cost and DIY solutions on an open-source platform, and to enable high-tech devices to reach people in need all over the world. Not Impossible creates a sustainable cycle where collaboration inspires innovation, and where content compels further action.
In November 2016, MAF had the honour of flying Mark and his team back to South Sudan to pass on the significant improvements they have since made to the process. Where previously it would take around 10 hours to print one limb (if the electricity was working properly), they are now able to make one from start to finish in around 4 hours. The arm functionality has also increased, thus creating an even greater quality of life for its recipient.
The Not Impossible team has now created what they call ‘The department of Accessible Prosthetics” (DOAP) which works to deploy prosthetics limbs in refugee camps worldwide.
What an amazing privilege it is for MAF to partner with such a technologically advanced and much needed life-changing organisation.
