Bakersfield girl gets custom 3D-printed prosthetic hand

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) - Isabella was born with amniotic band syndrome, which caused her to lose circulation in her right hand and have what she calls a "baby hand."

As Isabella started to grow up, she began noticing that her hand was different.

"She just started hiding ... hiding her little hand. She would hide it everywhere we would go," said Cristina Ibarra, Isabella's mother.

Ibarra said that the teasing broke her heart.

"She even got called a freak once, and she just started crying," said the girl's mother.

Ibarra then came across Enable, a social media site that connects children in need of prosthetic hands with volunteers to give them the prosthetic free of charge.

The mother and daughter soon met with a maker called Fathom out in Oakland. Fathom made Isabella a custom 3D-printed prosthetic hand. Isabella personalized it with hot pink coloring, Care Bears, and even a little diamond ring.

The mother said Isabella is still learning how to use the prosthetic hand.

"She needs practice. She was born like that, so it's not easy for her," said Ibarra.

The mother said she plans to take Isabella to physical therapy to help her learn how to use it. However, Isabella is already learning quickly on her own.

"She's doing a whole bunch of stuff. She'll hold stuff, scratch her head, shake peoples' hands, and ride her motorcycle," said Ibarra.

Ibarra said that even though Isabella has a new prosthetic hand, she makes sure that she knows she is no different with or without it.

"We try to explain to her that she was born like that, and she shouldn't feel any less because of that," said the child's mother.