Hailey Dawson is an 8 year old girl from Nevada, but Hailey isn't like most little girls. Hailey has a 3D printed hand. She was born with Poland syndrome, which caused her to be born with 3 fingers missing on her right hand and a pectoral muscles missing. When she was 4 years old, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas took a mold of her hand and created a 3D printed robotic arm that is held together with fishing line. Ever since she got her robotic arm she began finding a love for baseball along with her whole family.
Her family wanted her to be able to get her involved with the sport she loved and they had an idea. Hailey's goal is to throw the first pitch of the game at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the country.
A few of the places she has thrown the first pitch include a minor league team in Las Vegas, Baltimore’s Camden Yards for her favorite team which is The Orioles, and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
This Thursday she threw at Fenway Park for a Red Soxs game, this game marked her 21 stadium on her list leaving only 9 other locations before she can accomplish her goal. She hopes to complete them all by the end of this season, ending with the Angels on September 16th.
Now, all of this isn't just for Hailey to meet her goal but also to raise money for University of Nevada, Las Vegas to be able to afford more 3D prints like her so that they can give other kids the chance at a regular life and the opportunities that Hailey now has. During an interview with ABC she said "I want people to know that if I can do it you can do it".
What an inspiring little girl. By the time she was born she had to grow up fast and learn how to deal with Poland Syndrome. But she never let her disability stop her from doing what she loves and being happy. I'm sure there's been rough times throughout all of this but in the end she is happy and her and her family have stayed positive and hopeful! She truly overcame something that no little girl should ever have to deal with, and not only did she endure the tough times but she has created something beautiful out of it to help UNLV create more 3D prints like hers to help other people like her.
I hope this will bring a little positivity into your lives today, like Hailey says "If I can do it, you can do it." So go out and do something you love that makes you happy. Be your own happiness and wash away the negativity.
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