Girl With 3D Printed Hand Wants To Throw At Every MLB Park And Gets Tons Of Offers

Posted by Aldo Pusey on Thursday, August 8, 2024

Girl With 3D Printed Hand Wants To Throw At Every MLB Park And Gets Tons Of Offers

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Updated Nov. 18 2019, 2:33 p.m. ET

Source: twitter

Seven-year-old Hailey Dawson was born without three fingers due to a rare disease called Poland Syndrome, which causes defects in one out of every 200,000 births. When Hailey was born, her right hand came out different than the left. The right had a pinky and a thumb, but the three fingers in the middle were missing — her "nubbins” as her family calls them. But thanks to modern medical science, and years of working with experts from South Africa and the United States, she's been able to receive a specially designed 3-D printed hand that allows her to write and perform everyday tasks. 

Yong Dawson, Hailey's mom, was scrolling through Facebook one say in 2013 when she saw a 3D-printed hand designed for a 5-year-old boy with finger mobility issues. She took the information and called the engineering department at University of Nevada in Las Vegas

"We simply thought that we could scale it down to fit her hand. This did not work and we found that we have to do multiple adjustments to fit her hand properly," the engineering college's dean of research, Mohamed Trabia said.  

And being a lifelong baseball fan, Hailey has even taught herself how to hold and throw a baseball with her prosthetic. 

Cutest ever. #RickyMartin #RickyMartinResidency #rickymartinallin #allin #sexysouls #3d #3dprinting #flexyhand #robotichand @ricky_martin pic.twitter.com/FaSyz9TEYq

— Haileys_hand (@haileys_hand) April 17, 2017

Now, Hailey is on a mission to throw out the first pitch at every Major League stadium in the country. She's already done so at the Oriole Park, home to the Baltimore Orioles. But since Bleacher Report covered her story recently, she's gotten a lot more offers. 

7-year-old Hailey Dawson wants to throw out the first pitch at every MLB ballpark with her 3-D printed hand pic.twitter.com/onStqhEzyB

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 7, 2017

The Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Phillies, and New York Mets were among dozens of teams inviting Hailey for a visit. 

Looks like we need to get you to Fenway, Hailey!

Just DM us with your info and we're in! ⚾️

— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 8, 2017

Sounds great! Can you DM us Hailey's info, so we can reach out?

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 7, 2017

We'd LOVE to have Hailey at CBP!

Can you please DM us her information so we can reach out?

— Phillies (@Phillies) September 7, 2017

We are on board! Send her our way!

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 7, 2017

We would love to have Hailey at AT&T Park! Please DM us her info.

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) September 7, 2017

We'd love to make it happen! Please DM us her info.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) September 7, 2017

Can you make it up to Minnesota, Hailey? DM us your info and we will make it happen!

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) September 7, 2017

Absolutely! Please DM us Hailey's info. so we can get in touch with her.

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 7, 2017

We're in! https://t.co/sDrq9qNiIj

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 8, 2017

We would love to have Hailey visit us! Please DM us her info!

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 7, 2017

They keep going. Even the Minor League and college teams want in on the action. 

Hey Hailey! How about throwing out a first pitch at Raley Field? You can start here and cover the minor league circuit too 😎

Please DM us!

— River Cats (@RiverCats) September 7, 2017

What about a college ballpark? We'd love to have her throw the first pitch for @GatorsBB!

— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 8, 2017

Unsurprisingly, Twitter loved the response. 

sometimes twitter is really good pic.twitter.com/sWzoEIDcEG

— Nats Squid (@NatsSquid) September 7, 2017

ahhhh how dare you make me feel feelings

— KRANG T. NELSON (@KrangTNelson) September 7, 2017

There is crying in baseball.

— Tina West (@westeawest) September 7, 2017

No you're crying

— Kristen Balboni (@KristenBalboni) September 8, 2017

"Hailey’s hope was to visit all the ballparks and throw a strike. To have fun,"  Yong Dawson, Hailey's mom said. "For me, it was to spread the awareness of Poland syndrome and how easily accessible the robotic hand is." 

WE'RE ALL CRYING. 

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