 |
Hailey DawsonLittle American Girl With Poland Syndrome And Robotic Arm
Date of Birth: 01.01.2010
Country:  USA |
Content:
- A Young American Battling Poland Syndrome with a Robotic Arm
- Shining Bright in the MLB Spotlight
- Poland Syndrome: A Rare Journey
- Adapting with Confidence
- That confidence fueled Hailee's idea to throw out the first pitches.
- Raising Awareness for Poland Syndrome
- "Everything she does, she does it herself," says her proud mother.
A Young American Battling Poland Syndrome with a Robotic Arm
Born with a rare medical condition, 8-year-old baseball enthusiast Hailee Dawson has become a regular sight at Major League Baseball stadiums across America, making the first pitch with her custom-designed, 3D-printed robotic arm.
Shining Bright in the MLB Spotlight
Hailee's presence at MLB games has her straightening her long, dark hair and delivering the ceremonial first pitch before thousands of spectators. From Yankee Stadium to Pittsburgh's PNC Park, her determination is evident. Her mission: to throw first pitches at MLB stadiums nationwide, using her innovative 3D-printed robotic arm.
"Our child is proud of what she has," says her mother, Yon. "She's proud of her arm. She doesn't let it define her life."
Poland Syndrome: A Rare Journey
Hailee was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare defect that causes underdeveloped or missing muscles on one side of the body. In her case, she lacks her right pectoral muscle, resulting in an underdeveloped right arm with fewer fingers. Her parents had never heard of limb-muscle birth defects, and now hope that their daughter's 30-stadium tour will raise awareness about Poland Syndrome.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the condition affects about one in 20,000 newborns. However, accurate data is challenging to collect because milder forms that impact hands are often overlooked.
"We were thrown a curveball," says Yon. Early in her pregnancy, she and her husband, Greg, learned of their baby's anatomical issues. But a diagnosis did not come until after Hailee was born. "Hailee was one week old when we took her to a pediatric upper limb specialist. He unzipped her onesie, looked at her chest, and said: 'She has Poland Syndrome.'"
Adapting with Confidence
Now living in Nevada with her parents and brother Zak, Hailee recently made the first pitch at a New York Mets game after exploring the Empire State Building with her mother. Surprisingly, Dawson doesn't use her robotic arm in New York City, having learned to do almost everything without it.
"When she was very little, she would try to do things with her right arm," recalls Yon. "She would try and try, and then she would switch to her left."
Dawson only recently mastered tying her shoes, though she is slightly behind in grasping that skill, which typically develops around age 5-6. Her robotic arm came five years ago. Yon learned about two men developing such devices—one in South Africa and one in Washington state. She reached out to the closer one, connecting with an engineering team at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
"My concern was that she wouldn't be able to hold onto the handlebars of a bike," says Yon. She emailed the university, thinking "college guys would be awesome," and she was right. They welcomed Hailee with open arms.
The child's hand was laser-scanned to get accurate measurements and create a custom-fit model. A 3D printer then produced the plastic hand. Hailee's wrist mobility allows her to move the prosthetic's fingers, but improvements are ongoing. Yon meets with the engineering team every few months to plan and adjust as Dawson grows.
"When she first got it, it wasn't about function, it was about confidence," says Yon.
That confidence fueled Hailee's idea to throw out the first pitches.
Baseball Connections and Robotic Innovation"We're a baseball family," says her mother. "My husband played baseball; my son's played baseball—nine years. Zak pitches and plays first base."
Dawson honed her skills with everyone from her father and brother to college baseball players and Las Vegas Aviators starting pitcher, Erick Fedde. Hailee eventually found she had the best control with an underhand pitch.
The young girl's robotic arm-assisted throws are now being broadcast on national television as she tours American stadiums.
For each venue, the University of Nevada team designs a special prosthetic for Hailee. For instance, her New York Mets arm was done in orange and blue. Every stadium results in signed baseballs and autographs for the young fan.
Raising Awareness for Poland Syndrome
The mission to educate about Poland Syndrome is gradually gaining traction.
"Everyone I've talked to has never heard of it until I explain it," says Yon.
"We've connected with two other children with Poland Syndrome, one in Milwaukee and one in Texas. The one in Texas has the same arm as Hailee. His mom saw my daughter's story and reached out to me and said, 'What do I do?' And I said, 'Well, you contact this engineering department...' What we've learned is, it doesn't hurt to ask."
Yon continues: "Every chance I get, I talk about Poland Syndrome; if I can get the word out about the arm, I do."
After the Pittsburgh Pirates game, Dawson and her mother will head to Boston for the Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
Before the Mets game, she was having lunch at a sports memorabilia bar. The owner offered to display some of her prosthetics and commemorative baseballs.
But Hailee wasn't impressed. Like any 8-year-old, she has a preference for playing games on her phone, hanging out with friends, and, of course, watching baseball.
