John Peterson was looking to put his 3D printer to good use and six months ago he found the online community Enabling the Future. The members of this community make prosthetic arms and hands for people who need them. One of those people was 7-year old Stars Wars fan Liam Porter who was born with a partial left arm. He’s had prosthetics in the past but they weren’t useful and definitely weren’t cool to him.
Enter John (cue Star Wars music) and his 3D printer.
Last Saturday afternoon, John and a group of Storm Troopers from the Georgia Garrison of the 501st Legion – whose motto is “Bad guys doing good” – surprised Liam at a Regal 20 movie theater and led him to a party room where they presented him with a Storm Trooper helmet and prosthetic arm.
“What do you think about that?” Peterson asked.
“Cool,” said Liam. who could not stop giggling.
Unlike the prosthetic Liam had as a kid, this one has a clamp and a rail system for different attachments.
“We’re going to have to tell the whole school about this,” said Liam’s friend, Jacob Yawn.
It looks like a lot more people than Liam’s classmates are going to know about this great story and gift from John Peterson.
“It took about three months to make the arm, and around $300 to build, but it “was a fun project” and totally worth it, Peterson said.
Story & Photos by The Augusta Chronicle
