Vestavia Hills High School students designing 3-D device to help 6-year-old amputee use baseball glove

*** few months ago, *** six year old Waylon Marshall's dreams were shattered. But thanks to some smart kids from miles away, Waylin is looking at *** bright future playing the sport he loves only on W BT N 13. Rick Carley has the story of two communities, sharing knowledge and baseball corner, Alabama's Wayland Marshall sure does love baseball. In fact, he dreams of someday playing for the Birmingham Barons. And when he does, he will remember his comeback for the ages and the high school students that he befriended that helped him get there. He's got these cool little gadgets right here, Steve Brooks engineering and architectural design class at Mata Hills High School. As *** class of Sheldon's from the TV. Show the big bang theory, smart creative future engineers. The task really is to get him to be able to manipulate *** glove, to be able to open and close the glove without the use of those three fingers, the three fingers that this six year old lost in *** car crash last fall. It's been amazing. He's never complained of any pain or anything. We've done therapy. Well, everything good disposition, huh? It was months ago when way's fingers were mangled, Dr Carly Lau of U *** B Highlands, saved the boy's life. But Whale lost his middle ring and pinky fingers on his left hand. U *** B hand therapist. Christy man did wonders but with only his index finger and thumb remaining on his left hand, operating *** baseball glove was *** problem. Thing that I couldn't achieve for him is to open his glove up. So while Whalen did his best at games with *** glove that remained open. Christie Mann's husband who works at Vestavia Hills High School told her, well, you need to contact Mr Brooks. Uh Mr Brooks and the smart kids at the high school. Would you like to be able to open and close that glove *** little better? Yeah. So you're excited about what's happening here. The students offered up project proposals. Whalin in fact, stopped by Mr Brooks class as the students made 3d models of his hand, both with plaster and with *** computer. What did you think when you stuck your uh your hands in the, in the cement? Was it fun or yucky or what? Fun and kind of yucky, yucky fun and amazing as the students are using *** 3D printer to make *** device that will help whale open and close that glove. And you see the kid walk in and you get to show him what it is and he's all happy about it. It really makes you feel *** lot more invested and fulfilled than what you would with the normal projects. Waylon Marshall has put *** human face on this project and that's what makes it so fun. Overall, I think one of the biggest things you to do is help people like we're helping Waylin knowing that we're doing something great for him is really reaffirming for all of us. As Mr Brooks students work to complete the project. Waylon Marshall is playing baseball as best he can. Waiting for bright students from *** school district far away to help him live his dream. Christie called me and told me about it and her and I came together and it was just amazing. It gets you emotional, doesn't it? It does. Yeah. The communities came together for something like this. You just never know what they can do for you until you go through times like this. The fact that he's gonna be able to go out and play baseball is just life changing for this young man. Life changing for *** family that has been through so much. You didn't know these people before they were strangers, did not know any of them. They're your friends now. Are they sure are? Yes, we're very thankful. Thankful for brains, Mr Brooks and baseball. All the ingredients. Waylon Marshall needs to someday play for the Birmingham Barons. They're going to change his life, change his life in Rick Carley W V G M 13. Oh, I love that. That's great for Whale and his family. But also the practical learning going on in that situation. It's really cool. It's amazing what technology can do for people today. Right. Little willpower, little technology, *** little caring for somebody. It's great.