A schoolboy who was born with only one hand is fundraising for a high-tech bionic arm like his hero Iron Man.
Jacob Hyatt, seven, wants to be able to ride a bike and swing between monkey bars in the park with his friends.
Earlier this year he had the opportunity to trial a state-of-the-art ‘superhero arm’ designed by Open Bionics.
Jacob’s family are now trying to help him buy a new arm arm in time for Christmas.
Mum Bernice, 33, said: “I have always taught Jacob you don’t have to fit in and that it’s good to be unique and he should be confident.
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“But there are things he struggles with, so the second he tried on the bionic arm, he was desperate to get one.
“Since then, we knew we had to try everything possible to get one for him.
“He doesn’t need or want sympathy but it would just make his life that bit easier.
“We can’t believe how generous and supportive people have been so far and he is so excited at the thought of becoming a superhero.”
Florist Bernice was told Jacob’s left hand was missing during her 20 week pregnancy scan.
She has tried to make life as easy as possible for him by buying clothes with zips not button and Velcro shoes.
But as he grows older Jacob is becoming increasingly frustrated by his disability.
Bernice put her son’s name forward after spotting a Facebook post about a bionic arm trial.
In August he tested the new £13,000 Open Bionics limb for the first time.
Bernice said: “They put sensors on the arm muscles that would control his lower arm, and as soon as they explained how to move the arm, Jacob got it moving straight away.
“I nearly cried when he began picking up and dropping tennis balls and doing the ‘OK’ hand sign - his eyes completely lit up.
“I remember him saying ‘mum, look what I can do!’ and I knew we had to get one for him.”
The high-tech bionic arm comes with a protective shell decorated to match Jacob’s favourite superhero Iron Man.
Mum-of-two Bernice, from Eaton Bray, Bedfordshire, has already received more than £7000 worth of donations.
Her family hope to raise the rest of the money in time for Christmas.
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Bernice said: “I was a bit anxious setting up the fundraising page but after seeing how happy that arm made Jacob I had to try everything to make it happen.
“The response so far has been amazing - I can’t believe how much money has already been raised.”
- Anyone wishing to help Jacob should visit the GoFundMe page.
