Prosthesis helps child make music - Brief Article

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- When Jaclyn Barker played violin during a recital recently, It was not so amazing that she had only been playing violin since September. It was amazing that September was also the time she began wearing a prosthesis on her right arm.

The 8-year-old daughter of Lt. Col. Kenneth W. Barker, of Aeronautical Systems Division's training systems office, was born missing most of her right forearm and hand.

"We prayed God would give her a tenacious spirit," Barker said. "We are always concerned about other kids; they can be very cruel. But there's nothing Jaclyn can't do. She's a go-getter."

Her father recalled how the prosthesis and music came together to challenge Jaclyn.

"She has a big sister who plays the p1ano, so she wanted to play too," Barker said. "Jaclyn played by ear with her left hand, but she reached her limit pretty fast. My wife and I looked for something else she could play."

Last year Barker met John Brandt of LaForsch Orthopedics and discussed prosthetic devices and what kind of instrument Jaclyn might be able to play. The Barkers decided upon stringed instruments and, finally, the violin "although," said Barker, "maybe she could have found something easier to learn." Jaclyn could continue in her musical quest by means of a prosthetic arm and hand.

Working with TRICARE and Wright-Patterson Medical Center's pediatric case manager, Kathy Maguire, the Barkers completed the paperwork for Jaclyn's arm. TRICARE paid for it and LaForsch Orthopedics built it.

"The prosthesis has no moving parts, but the wearer can bend her elbow (in order to play the instrument)," Brandt said. "She also has another prosthetic hand that looks more like a natural hand. It has a cable that is attached to a spring within the hand. When she extends her arm the hand opens."

The prosthesis is one factor in Jaclyn's musical development; the second was Deb Dempsey, a senior music therapy student. In half-hour lessons, one per week, Dempsey taught Jaclyn to read music and play the violin.

"Jaclyn is in a unique situation," Dempsey said. "Her prosthesis bridges [over] her limitation and enables her to play like anyone else.

"Since the bow is fixed, it doesn't stay perpendicular to the strings. It arcs and [Jaclyn] must use her arm more [since] she doesn't have any wrist motion. But she's made great progress, and she really has learned a lot on her own. She's a great learner and a good student."

Jaclyn practices three to four times each week. Although the prosthesis -- Jaclyn simply calls it "her arm" -- allows her to play the violin, she wanted nothing to do with it at first. "I thought It would have clamps," she said, envisioning metal clamps or even a hook.

Barker said that whether or not she becomes a great musician, at least "it's one more thing she can do." He added: "We never could have done this -- gotten the arm--without the help of TRICARE."

COPYRIGHT 2001 U.S. Air Force, Air Force News Agency
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group