A BOY who dreams of Terminator-style bionic arms is one step closer to getting them, after specialists in America told him it will be possible when he gets older.
James Froggatt, 14, was born with parts of his lower arms missing up to his elbow. He has one thumb which is attached to his upper arm, which he uses to write with.
He and his father Alex, 46, of Park Road, Worsbrough Bridge, travelled to Florida last weekend to see a specialist who examined James’s arms.
Alex said: “We had to check if James has any nerves in the ends of his arms, to see if he can have the bionic arms when he grows up.
“He has got the nerves and will be able to have them, which he is over the moon about.
“We have to wait until he is 18, because there is no point in spending all that money for him to outgrow them. They have to be specially made for James.
“It also gives me the chance to save up. I don’t know how much it will cost, we haven’t gone down that road yet, but it won’t be cheap.”
Alex was stunned when James was born with missing limbs, and had no idea this was the case until he arrived. He said it was a big shock to everyone, and no diagnosis was ever given, doctors just said it was ‘one of those things.’
James had been due to go to a camp for people with missing limbs while he was in America, but decided against it.
Alex said James is very shy and has trust issues, but is doing a lot better now than when he was younger.
He said he is self-conscious when he goes out and thinks everyone is looking at him. But he is interested in learning about scientific things and watches videos on the internet about how to do things.
To help fund the trip to America, about £1,600 was raised through a fundraising website, and Alex took part in a sponsored sky dive which raised about £1,500. Alex paid the remaining cost.
He said: “I enjoyed the sky dive, but I was nervous beforehand. When I got down, I couldn’t believe I had done it. I paid extra for photos and for it to be filmed, and I had to watch the film back. It’s unreal.”
From Florida, Alex and James flew to Benidorm for a holiday where they met up with James’s brother Liam 20, and sister Jessica, five.
