Malcolm Taylor doesn含羞草研究社檛 mind talking about his arm.

You含羞草研究社檙e not going to bring up anything the 14-year-old from the rural southern Vancouver Island community of Cobble Hill hasn含羞草研究社檛 already heard.

含羞草研究社淚 have had every kind of question,含羞草研究社� he assures.

A Grade 9 student at Frances Kelsey Secondary School, Taylor was born with just one hand, his left arm ending just a little bit above the elbow. Last year, he was fitted with a myoelectric arm, which can sense muscle impulses and allows him to open and close the hand simply by flexing the muscles in his residual limb.

Taylor has had different non-electrical prosthetics in the past, and a previous electrical one, but this is the best one he含羞草研究社檚 ever had. It含羞草研究社檚 not quite state-of-the-art, he says, but it含羞草研究社檚 the best in terms of price and functionality.

The arm was paid for by the War Amps CHAMP program. The War Amps began more than 100 years ago to assist war amputee veterans returning from the First World War. It has expanded its programs over the years to support all amputees.

含羞草研究社淭hey pay for all my prosthetics,含羞草研究社� Taylor points out. 含羞草研究社淚t makes life a lot easier.含羞草研究社�

Taylor received his current prosthetic about six months ago after working with beta versions before that. The process involved having a cast taken from his arm, getting the prosthetic custom-fitted, and having the electrodes fine-tuned. The work is done by a prosthesist, and isn含羞草研究社檛 invasive.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 no surgery,含羞草研究社� Taylor explains. 含羞草研究社淚 can take it on and off at any time.含羞草研究社�

The many steps were worth it for the new arm.

含羞草研究社淚 can do a lot more things than I could with the other one,含羞草研究社� Taylor says.

The myoelectric arm allows for gripping motions that Taylor含羞草研究社檚 previous prostetics didn含羞草研究社檛, like grabbing a stick.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檝e tried throwing things but with little success,含羞草研究社� he says, adding that would change with practice. It definitely makes a difference that he grew up without a hand.

含羞草研究社淚t would probably be easier for someone who has had a hand before to get the hang of it,含羞草研究社� he says.

Taylor含羞草研究社檚 previous prosthetics didn含羞草研究社檛 have nearly as much going for them.

含羞草研究社淗ave you seen a hook hand in a pirate movie?含羞草研究社� he asks. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not inaccurate.含羞草研究社�

He couldn含羞草研究社檛 have picked up a medical face mask with the old one, for example. And the new one works well enough that he doesn含羞草研究社檛 have to put one thing down to pick another up.

含羞草研究社淚t takes away that extra step that含羞草研究社檚 always annoying,含羞草研究社� he says.

Taylor will have to get a new prosthetic, eventually, but he can probably get this one refitted before that happens.

含羞草研究社淭hey含羞草研究社檙e supposed to be very tight,含羞草研究社� he relates. 含羞草研究社淪o you grow out of them really quickly.含羞草研究社�

Other kids at school definitely approve of this one.

含羞草研究社淭hey think it含羞草研究社檚 really cool,含羞草研究社� Taylor says.

Not only is he not shy about discussing the arm, he admits he may even show off from time to time.

含羞草研究社淚 can punch walls,含羞草研究社� he says with a mischievous laugh. 含羞草研究社淪o I do that occasionally.含羞草研究社�

For more news from Vancouver Island and beyond delivered daily into your inbox, please