Canberra bladesmith Karim Haddad lost most function in his left hand after a horrific injury five years ago. After exhausting every option available, he’s turned to a device which medical experts say could be a breakthrough for others living with nerve damage.
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00:00 I'm Karim Haddad, I'm a bladesmith.
00:07 Five years ago I had an accident where I cut the ulnar nerve on my left hand.
00:12 I had a couple of surgeries and a lot of physio and rehab but my hand didn't work like it
00:18 used to.
00:19 After a friend recommended me to have a look at it, I found a bionic hand called an iron
00:24 hand and it provides extra strength.
00:27 It's run by a computer and a little app that does it but it allows me to make things that
00:32 I couldn't have done for the last five years.
00:35 I was really hopeful when I saw the hand.
00:37 I'd tried all kinds of things and had pretty much given up hope of being able to use my
00:42 hand properly again.
00:44 And it's got five different motors in here that connect to each one of my fingers.
00:49 Well I'm really impressed with what I've seen so far and given that this is a not uncommon
00:55 scenario for me to deal with, it's definitely something that I think is worth exploring
01:00 further.
01:01 So I'd certainly see an expanding role for augmented devices like that that enhance existing
01:08 function.
01:11 I'm really excited about getting back onto the track I was on before I had that unfortunate
01:17 day five years ago.
01:18 So being able to make things, being able to teach people the joy of making and to be able
01:22 to experience that with them is far more achievable for me now and more exciting.
01:28 And you know, I get to make nice stuff.
01:29 I'm really excited.
01:30 I'm really proud of it.
01:31 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:32 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:33 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:34 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:35 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:36 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:37 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:38 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:39 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:40 I'm really excited to be able to do it again.
01:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]