Bill > HJR958

This Joint Resolution commends Gabriel Filippini for his remarkable achievement in using innovative 3-D printing technology to create a prosthetic hand for his younger brother, Lucas, who was born with an underdeveloped left hand. Facing a waitlist for a prosthesis, Gabriel collaborated with his teacher, Kurt O'Connor, and organizations like Enabling the Future (which provides open-source designs for 3-D printed prosthetic limbs) and Makersmiths (a nonprofit that supplied crucial knuckle joints) to develop the device. The prosthetic hand, presented to Lucas on his birthday in 2016, has significantly improved his ability to perform everyday tasks and continues to inspire the Loudoun County community, with Gabriel and Kurt working on larger versions to accommodate Lucas's growth. The General Assembly is expressing its admiration for Gabriel's compassionate and technologically advanced solution that has profoundly impacted his brother's life.