PBS: How a 3-D printed hand from UC gave a girl the gift of play
PBS NewsHour shares the story about a young recipient of an innovative 3-D printed prosthetic thanks to a University of Cincinnati student organization
Ella Morton was born without bones in one of her hands. A traditional prosthetic hand would have cost up to $10,000. But thanks to EnableUC, a student organization at the University of Cincinnati, Ella can play just like her sisters, at no cost to her family.
Founded in 2015 by Jacob Knorr, CEAS, '17, EnableUC promotes 3-D printing technology as a way to bridge the gap between engineering and medicine.
PBS NewsHour air a segment on Sept. 3 about Ella, her family and the effect EnableUC has had on their lives.
"I don’t think they totally get how much of an impact it made on our family and Ella," Ella's mother Heather Morton told PBS. "The first thing that she’s always said when she puts it on, she’s like, 'Look, I have two hands now, mommy, just like my sisters. And I can hold both Barbies. And I can play. And I can do all the same things as my sisters do.' I like to think that we have never made her feel different, but this just makes it feel more normal."
The story was produced by Mary Williams, a Gwen Ifill Legacy fellow from Cincinnati's Hughes STEM High School and now a freshman at UC.
Additional EnableUC Media
- USA Today: Students build 3-D printed prosthetic hands for kids
- NPR: The Latest Advancements In Technology Designed To Improve Lives Of Those Facing Physical Challenges
- Medical Plastics News: Student organization developing affordable 3-D printed prosthetics
- 3ders.org: Student group EnableUC working on 3-D printed 'Luke Skywalker' prosthetic hand
- The Cincinnati Enquirer: UC students build 3-D printed prosthetic hands for kids
Featured image at top: Ella Morton shows off her 3-D printed hand at a UC Board of Trustees meeting. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/UC Creative Services.
Related Stories
Engineering graduate drafted by San Diego Padres
July 16, 2025
The Cincinnati Enquirer highlighted University of Cincinnati engineering graduate Kerrington Cross's journey to the major leagues. Waiting alongside hundreds of other baseball hopefuls, Kerrington Cross heard his name called on July 14. With the 220th overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft, Cross is headed to the San Diego Padres.
Pursuing a career in sustainability and environmental protection...
Explore how UC empowers students for careers in sustainability through co-ops, GIS tools, and hands-on learning—like Alyssa’s work at Flutterby Farm.
Two UC faculty named UNESCO chairs
July 15, 2025
Two University of Cincinnati professors who study environmental science and risk management were appointed to four-year terms as UNESCO university chairs of natural sciences.