In 2017, a five-year-old girl who had been bullied all her life finally got to feel like a superhero. Lottie Wilson-Dale was born without her left forearm after an incident in the womb caused it to be amputated.
Lottie Wilson-Dale grew up being bullied because she was different from other children, and some even gave her a cruel nickname related to her arm, which was damaged before birth. However, she got a new lease on life in 2019, and her family loved it.
Lottie’s mother always felt strongly about helping her daughter fit in more and not have children, and even the occasional adult pointed and laughed at her child for being different from the other children on the playground.
Lottie lost her left forearm in the womb due to amniotic band syndrome, which occurs when string-like tissues in the womb wrap around a limb and restrict blood flow, causing the limb to be amputated.
As Lottie grew up, some bullies called her “hook hand” or said things like “Ew, look at her snake arm” because her arm ends below her elbow just before her wrist. However, Lottie’s life was forever changed after three years on a waiting list.
How Was Lottie Fitted with A Prosthetic Arm?
Lottie was on a waiting list for three years until 2017 when she was finally fitted with a prosthetic arm and hand, which she got for free from charity team UmLimbited. Of Lottie’s new arm, her mother, Michelle, said:
“It was important for me and Natalie Wilson [Lottie’s other mother] to apply for the prosthetic arm, as we don’t ever want her to get bullied or feel left out as she gets older.”
The couple also didn’t want their daughter’s right pectoral muscle to develop faster than her left and give the children something else to bully Lottie about as she got older. They were thrilled that Lottie could alternate between arms and play like any other child.
Michelle confirmed that her daughter felt like a “superhero” after having the prosthetic fitted, loved playing with her brother, and even found her household chores more fun. She was also eager to show off her new prosthetics to all those important to her, starting with her teacher. Michelle shared:
“She was so excited to go to school and surprise her teacher by passing her lunch choice on the piece of paper with her new hand, which actually moved her teacher to tears.”..CONTINUE READING