Making Prosthetics Eagle Scout chooses project that changes lives. Tim Andrasy of Canton hasn’t worn a prosthetic arm since he was in high school 22 years ago. It was too bulky and didn’t fit well, so he gave up wearing it, and found work-arounds to succeed in his culinary career. After serving many years as an executive chef, he’s now in a second career as a butcher. Recently, he met someone who changed his life. Daniel McCrobie is a Scout with Boy Scouts of America Troop 4056 based in Hickory Flat. When it came time to work on his Eagle Scout project, he passed up projects such as installing picnic benches for the local school or church, or clearing hiking trails at a state park. McCrobie decided to think bigger. He knew he wanted his project to help people and have a lasting impact. He also wanted to use the skills he
Daniel McCrobie with one of the 3D prosthetic limbs. 44
AROUND WOODSTOCK | November 2020
Tim Andrasy of Canton is measured for his device by Eagle Scout Daniel McCrobie.
had learned in engineering classes at Sequoyah High School. And, like most teenagers, he wanted it to be interesting and fun. The timing of McCrobie’s search for a meaningful project aligned perfectly with a new high school teacher, who started a Robotics Team. In addition to wanting to be competitive in FIRST Robotics regional tournaments, teacher Brent Hollers suggested two possible service projects that would enhance the students’ knowledge of STEM subjects, and benefit those in need. One of those projects seemed like a perfect fit for what McCrobie wanted for his Eagle Project. While schools were shut down due to COVID-19 and summer break, McCrobie was able to establish an e-NABLE chapter at Sequoyah High School. e-NABLE “is an online global community of ‘Digital Humanitarian’ volunteers from all over the world who are using 3D printers to make free and low-cost prosthetic upper limb devices for children and adults in need.” A generous donation from the Jason T. Dickerson Family Foundation, started by a Sequoyah High School graduate and his family, provided the team with a Dremel DigiLab 3D printer to make the computer-designed plastic prosthetics. The foundation learned about the team’s work through its membership
in the Rotary Club of Canton. McCrobie quickly got the newly formed chapter certified to print several models of hands and arms. Additionally, after several conversations with Maria Esquela and Bob Rieger, leaders of the global e-NABLE organization, McCrobie was asked if the Sequoyah chapter could be the national repository of surplus hands. One of the requirements for the Eagle Scout project is to get materials and money donated. Not wanting to just ask for money, McCrobie thought up another service he could provide. He used his 3D printer to make Corona Safety Keys. He offered free keys to those who made donations toward his project. Within 10 days, the Scout had gathered almost double the amount he had estimated he would need for his project. With the extra funds, he was able to print additional hands and help more people. When schools reopened in August, McCrobie began looking for potential clients for his fellow Robotics team members to help. The first person they helped was an Alabama man, who lost four fingers in a pyrotechnics accident. Then, on Sept. 19, McCrobie led a combined group of Robotics team members and Scouts to work on six hands and arms. These included a hand for an 8-year-old Canadian girl, who was born without her left hand;
