A Lucky-Finer can grasp anything that is within their vicinity, but, more than that, they will tell you that they also have the unique ability to reach for the stars.

FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY CREATED

BY CARL LANGE, MD

TEN FINGERS ARE OVERRATED: Lucky Fin CEO/Founder Milly Stapelman with daughter Ryan. Ryan entered the world with an unexpected hand difference. The growth of her right hand had been stunted, her palm small and no fingers except a tiny thumb.

Roger: I'll take Human Anatomy for one thousand.

Host: Symbrachydactyly.

Roger: What is an upper limb disability?

Host: Correct for one thousand dollars. BZZZZ... pause.

Host: I'm sorry. Our judges cannot accept this answer as the community over at the Lucky Fin Project would take exception to the term "disability."

So, before I would urge Roger to engage his attorney and file suit against the game show, my best advice would be for him to get a plane ticket to Royal Oak, Michigan to see exactly what is going on there. This is the birthplace of the Lucky Fin Project.

In 2007, Molly Stapelman gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Ryan. Healthy in every way, Ryan was also born with the unique condition called symbrachydactyly. This is a rare congenital condition which affords its inheritors a single upper extremity disparity. Typically, on the affected hand, the fingers are abnormally shortened, webbed, or conjoined. The underlying anatomy, including bones, joints, muscles and nerves are also affected, causing functional disparities as well. A spectrum of presentations includes anything from a functional thumb and no fingers, or nubs to a functional thumb and little finger only. Several causes are theorized, including disruption of "normal" development in the womb, exacerbated by lack of blood flow. I am reluctant to use words like normal, abnormal or disability, particularly around the folks involved in the Lucky Fin Project. After the initial shock of realizing that their daughter had a limb

disparity, Molly and her husband Dan discussed their fears and the "what ifs". What if she can't play the same games as the other children? What about the monkey bars, the piano, or throwing a ball? Believe it or not, that tipping point discussion between Molly and Dan took a grand total of 20 minutes before they cold-turkey dropped the discussion, embraced their uniquely created daughter and embarked on their beautiful and wonderful journey toward the Lucky Fin Project.

Molly and Dan founded the Lucky Fin Project in 2010. As published in their Mission Statement: "The mission of the Lucky Fin Project is to celebrate, educate, support and unite families and individuals with limb differences." The name of the organization was born out of the Walt Disney movie Finding Nemo whose main character, a clownfish named Nemo happened to be born with a foreshortened fin, which he referred to as his "lucky fin". Despite the "fin disparity" (Symbrachy-fin-dactaly maybe?), the courageous fish defies all odds in the expanse of the ferocious ocean and achieves far more than his protective father would ever imagine. Not unlike the extraordinary com

extraordinary community of the Lucky Fin Project. But what about the obvious disability, you ask. Mention the D-word around Lucky-Finners and you'll get an earful. They don't pity themselves, consider themselves to have a disability, or to have "special needs." Ironically, they will all celebrate the "special gift" they have received in acquiring their limb disparity. Ask Lucky

Finner Angel Giuffria, an award-winning actress and writer. Oh, she also was born without a left forearm. Having roles in The Hunger Games, FBI: Most Wanted and Goliath to name a few, she considers her limb disparity the physical attribute which inspired her to excel and defy the odds. As an invaluable byproduct, she drew attention to the limb disparity community which caused Hollywood to recognize this diversely unique community in acting, the arts, and music.

this diversely unique community in acting, the arts, and music. Tell Nick Newell, also a member of the Lucky Fin community, that he has a disability and he'll kick your butt. Literally. Nick is a renowned professional mixed martial arts fighter. He has an impressive resume, including multiple victories in the XFC or Extreme Fighting Championships. He won't mention the fact that he was born without a left hand, but I will. He also doesn't consider his achievements exceptional. He simply considers it a normal outcome for anyone who works hard. The college educated fighter will explain that he was never on a mission to exploit his limb discrepancy in any way. Rather, he says, "I was on a mission to be the very best version of myself I could be, and anything else that I got

out of that was just a bonus.'

So, they sing, they dance, they act, they fight professionally, they play baseball, and even play the violin. What they don't do is engage in self-pity. Their general attitude is one of confidence, basking in the knowledge that they are natural problem-solvers. They'll be the first to tell you that they get more out of life than you do. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." That was King David in his Psalm of praise to his Creator. Whether or not he had a limb disparity or not nobody can be sure. But, what is certain is the fact that each and every member of the Lucky Fin community lives with the sublime truth that they are wonderfully created. In his dramatic monologue poem Andrea Del Sarto, English poet Robert Browning writes, "Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?" Yes, a Lucky Finner can grasp anything that is within their vicinity, but, more than that, they will tell you that they also have the unique ability to reach for the stars.•

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Carl Lange is a board-certified surgeon and emergency medicine physician. He shares his perspectives on being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and how it has influenced his understanding of patients with special needs, including his own.

ABOUT THE LUCKY FIN PROJECT  The Lucky Fin Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to raise awareness and celebrate children and individuals born with symbrachydactyly or other limb differences. The Lucky Fin Project creates a support network for parents across the U.S. and around the world. It links parents to medical information and resources, provides education on limb differences and hosts events and financially support efforts for children attend specialized camps, obtain prosthetics, and to fund other organizations within the limb different community. Contact CEO/Founder Molly Stapelman at mollysryan@yahoo.com or visit luckyfin- project.org Email: luckyfinproject@yahoo.com