1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,440 - Can you eat two sausages, Mark? - Yes. 2 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:10,000 - And you, Carl? Two for you? - Yes. 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:12,720 Give your plates to Daddy. 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:15,200 That'll do, Mark. 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:18,880 This is Brett's family. 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,120 He said, the other day... 7 00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,280 He was pretending to be his father. He said: 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,040 "I'm Peter Nielsen, and I've got three sons." 9 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:32,760 And I said: "Oh yes? What are their names?" 10 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,200 He said: "One is Mark, and he teases. 11 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,680 "One is Carl, and he cries. 12 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,440 "And one is Brett, and he's got no arms." 13 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:59,320 Brett was born in Australia four and a half years ago. 14 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,560 Now, he lives in London. His father is an engineer. 15 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:05,000 He and his brothers are healthy. 16 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:06,720 And so are his parents. 17 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,200 There's no history of illness or handicap in the family. 18 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:13,360 Brett was born without arms 19 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,440 because, when his mom was pregnant, 20 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,720 she was given tranquilizing pills 21 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:19,960 containing Thalidomide. 22 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:21,880 She was one of 10,000 mothers 23 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,120 all over the world who had the same experience. 24 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,560 At his birth, his parents were deeply shocked. 25 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:32,040 They faced a choice: either to feel sorry for him, 26 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:33,400 and for themselves, 27 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,160 or to cope, and to help him cope. 28 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:39,680 We felt that, 29 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,120 rather than treat Brett gently, 30 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:45,600 we should make every effort 31 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:48,240 to treat him as near as possible 32 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:49,720 as a normal child. 33 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,080 Protect him from the obvious dangers. 34 00:01:52,240 --> 00:01:55,240 But he must not be protected 35 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:58,040 anymore than was absolutely necessary. 36 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,000 Because he was going to grow up 37 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:02,880 in a normal world 38 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,000 where people will say hurtful things 39 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:09,600 where, whilst he may be 40 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:12,720 an adorable little thing whilst he's a baby, 41 00:02:12,880 --> 00:02:16,720 he won't be very adorable when he's 15, 18, or 25. 42 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:20,400 So he must compete with others. 43 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,640 We did feel sorry for him when he was young, 44 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:31,920 but as he grew older and was quite happy, 45 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:34,080 there was no need to feel sorry. 46 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,920 Why should one feel sorry for a happy person? 47 00:02:52,600 --> 00:02:54,800 Don't touch me! 48 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:56,400 Don't! 49 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,360 He sees the world 50 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:06,800 not quite through rose-coloured glasses, 51 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,000 but he thinks people 52 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,040 are mostly very kind, 53 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:13,960 very good people. 54 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,880 He's inclined to speak and smile at almost anyone. 55 00:03:19,040 --> 00:03:21,920 People are very sympathetic towards him, 56 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,520 because he's a pleasant little boy of four 57 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,160 who, unfortunately, has no arms. 58 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:31,120 He thinks most people in the world are kind, isn't that great? 59 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:42,720 Brett is quite bright for his age, but when he was born, 60 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,360 many people, including the doctor, 61 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:46,960 somehow expected 62 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,160 that, because he had no arms, 63 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,200 he would be mentally handicapped as well. 64 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,600 In fact, it had the opposite effect. 65 00:03:56,040 --> 00:04:01,200 These children seem to be using their full potential. 66 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,240 Now, I believe that most of us coast along 67 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:07,880 using about 60, 70 % of our potential. 68 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:09,520 But, 69 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,240 these Thalidomide children, right since the birth, 70 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,560 have had to try much harder than the normal person 71 00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:18,640 at everything that they do. 72 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,200 It's become a way of life with them, 73 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,800 and I think they'll continue to do that. 74 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:27,840 And even those who have, say, 75 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:30,040 below average intelligence, 76 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,760 will probably do better in many ways 77 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,600 than physically normal children 78 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,120 who have the same IQ. 79 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:43,960 It's what they do with their intelligence that matters. 80 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,040 Wipe the floor. 81 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,600 However, there are many things Brett can't do for himself. 82 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:11,560 I think, too, there's 83 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,880 a certain amount of resentment 84 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:18,760 at the amount of time and effort 85 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:20,440 one has to give him. 86 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:23,000 I felt very guilty about it. 87 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,680 I used to get so annoyed when he'd ask me to, 88 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:30,760 not ask, demand, 89 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,000 that I should do this and do that. 90 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,240 When he would scream so much that, 91 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:39,320 because the child was so handicapped, 92 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:44,400 it seemed even worse to me to feel resentful. 93 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:50,560 She realized her resentment was normal 94 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:52,560 as there were two other children, 95 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,120 and so, stopped giving in to him. 96 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:59,720 But she also saw that Brett was not just crying for help. 97 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,760 He was crying for more independence. 98 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,760 The Nielsens, like many other parents, 99 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,400 had already had a frustrating series of hospital visits. 100 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,920 Thalidomide problems were new and so complex, 101 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,640 that most doctors were caught unprepared. 102 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,440 - Hello, how are you? - Very well, thanks. 103 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,720 But today promised to be different. 104 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,160 This hospital had offered not just advice and sympathy, 105 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:30,120 but an arm. 106 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,280 Artificial arms and hooks are already worn by thousands, 107 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:37,880 like war veterans. 108 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,000 Most Thalidomide children can't wear them. 109 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,200 Their shoulders are too weak to make them move. 110 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:46,880 They need arms that power themselves. 111 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:49,560 Scientists worked frantically to give them 112 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:51,160 a special arm. 113 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,320 Its power comes from a cylinder of compressed gas on the child's back. 114 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:59,000 It's controlled by switches under the chin. 115 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:01,280 First produced in Germany, 116 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,120 it was introduced to Britain by Lady Hoare, 117 00:07:04,280 --> 00:07:06,640 for further development in this country. 118 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:10,360 I think this is as good as any at the moment. 119 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,120 The Heidelberg Arm. 120 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:14,080 With this, 121 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:18,040 and the training of a child, at the present time, 122 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,680 we can already obtain three types of movement. 123 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,480 One is the rotation of the wrist, 124 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,280 which the child can produce 125 00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:31,200 by pressing this switch. 126 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,160 The second one is the flex of the elbow, 127 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,480 which again, the child can produce at will. 128 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,440 And finally, 129 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,560 there's the grip, like a forceps. 130 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:52,680 The combination of these imitates the movement of a normal arm. 131 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,320 Put your head right back, Brett. 132 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,160 You press it on one side, it comes up. 133 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:01,440 It goes down with the other side. 134 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,120 Now, press it with your chin for a minute. 135 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:10,880 Yes, lovely. 136 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:13,920 The movements are simple, 137 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:15,800 but the apparatus is complex, 138 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,600 especially for a child to live with. 139 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,080 It'll take 12 days just to fit the jacket properly. 140 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:23,640 and, as he grows, 141 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,000 Brett must return for a new arm every six months. 142 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:32,480 Not that way. 143 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:36,160 There. 144 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:41,360 Right. 145 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:42,680 Are we done now? 146 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,640 You want to spin around on the chair first? 147 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:46,840 Better ask first. 148 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:50,120 You've been a good lad. Give it a good swing. 149 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:53,600 I don't like it, want off. 150 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:56,520 - Alright? - Yeah. 151 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:58,680 Working? 152 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:00,120 It's stiff. 153 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:02,480 Try the elbow. 154 00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:06,200 That's a shot. 155 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:09,240 Come over here. 156 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:10,640 Try the other, 157 00:09:10,800 --> 00:09:13,360 other switches and see if they work, too. 158 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,400 That's right. 159 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:18,560 That's right. 160 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:20,080 Good. 161 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,360 It'll work if you try hard enough. You keep trying. 162 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:29,520 Come on, try with this one. 163 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:36,080 Close it. 164 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:38,400 That's it. 165 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:40,360 See, you can. 166 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,520 Now, you can repair your bike. 167 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:46,120 That's the boy. 168 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:47,600 Like a baby, 169 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,720 Brett must start from square one, 170 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:53,560 and learn what his arm can do and what it cannot do. 171 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:57,520 It'll take much longer than with a real arm, 172 00:09:57,680 --> 00:09:59,240 which has no switches 173 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:00,960 and will not slip 174 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:02,400 or jam 175 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:04,680 or run out of gas. 176 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:09,920 But Brett wears it even when it doesn't work. 177 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:11,800 For just wearing it. 178 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:13,480 Makes him feel better, 179 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,320 especially in public. 180 00:10:15,680 --> 00:10:16,840 For these children, 181 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,880 the most serious handicap isn't physical, 182 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:20,520 it is social. 183 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:24,520 When Brett was a tiny baby, 184 00:10:24,680 --> 00:10:28,800 I used to take him out to the shops and the clinic and whatnot, 185 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,120 as much, if not more, than with my other children, 186 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:34,040 because I thought: 187 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:36,400 "Let him get used to being stared at, 188 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,280 "and poked", as some people do, 189 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:41,240 "right from birth." 190 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:45,440 Better to be used to half a dozen stares every day of the week, 191 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,080 than to just suddenly get half a dozen every Sunday. 192 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:51,200 Old people tend to be 193 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:54,960 the hardest to handle. 194 00:10:56,720 --> 00:10:58,800 Old people sometimes 195 00:10:58,960 --> 00:11:00,400 ask us in the street: 196 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:02,960 "Did you take those drugs?" 197 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:05,520 They somehow think 198 00:11:05,680 --> 00:11:07,920 that Brett is a drug addict 199 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:09,760 who takes narcotics. 200 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:11,320 They think: 201 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,000 "These mothers have brought this on the child themselves." 202 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,600 And women in street have said: 203 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:19,200 "Shame on you, 204 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,120 "look what you've done to that poor child." 205 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:23,880 For a long time, 206 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:26,600 it would hurt. 207 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,800 Mothers who keep their children at home, 208 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:34,920 so that they may protect themselves and the children 209 00:11:35,080 --> 00:11:36,960 from stares and unkind remarks, 210 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:41,960 are really making the burden far greater 211 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:45,800 because the child must come out into the world someday. 212 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,160 Unfortunately, 213 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:53,920 for a handicapped child, 214 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,040 the outside world includes relatives and friends, 215 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:01,360 for many Thalidomide families felt shunned and isolated. 216 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:05,560 Seeking advice, they were only offered embarrassed sympathy. 217 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,040 So they sought solutions among themselves. 218 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:11,960 We formed, while we were there together, 219 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:13,720 a world organisation 220 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,560 for all parents. 221 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:19,360 And we are now representing 222 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:23,400 over 6,000 Thalidomide children that we know of. 223 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:25,080 Since the meeting, 224 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,240 we've discovered there are several hundreds more 225 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,880 in smaller countries, and the whole thing 226 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:32,520 is growing all the time. 227 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:36,040 We joined the society to meet other parents, 228 00:12:36,200 --> 00:12:37,240 to compare notes. 229 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,560 Not only successes, 230 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:42,240 but failures. 231 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:46,400 Really, the society was formed not just to raise money, 232 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,560 not just to pool ideas, 233 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,120 but so that people could share their problems. 234 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:56,680 Trouble shared is trouble halved. 235 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:58,960 In Germany they know exactly 236 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,120 how many children will be of school age next term. 237 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:05,480 They know how many will go to school next January. 238 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,080 They are so well-aligned 239 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,200 for what's going to happen in the future. 240 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,480 We're going to update our own records. 241 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,480 They know how to get the children to the hospital. 242 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:17,280 They've contacted headmasters, 243 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:20,520 to make sure the children will be accepted in school. 244 00:13:20,680 --> 00:13:23,480 They really are on the ball about this. 245 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,200 They've considered it 5 years from now. 246 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,400 After that, they're going to consider the issue of work. 247 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:31,680 Is it the German government doing this? 248 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:33,280 It's the German parents. 249 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:35,160 We've got to look ahead, 250 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,240 to be much more concerned with them than we have up to now. 251 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,680 We all have our individual problems 252 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,560 but a collective problem has to be taken up. 253 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:46,160 Peter and John Hart 254 00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:48,360 and the rest of the council, 255 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,080 have a lot of work to do. 256 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:52,840 I think we've helped in two cases already. 257 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,680 The children are coming up to nursery school, 258 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,000 not junior school. 259 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:58,360 And I think that 260 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:00,880 behind the scenes, one can do a lot 261 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,880 to select the schools where the children will be happiest. 262 00:14:04,120 --> 00:14:05,840 In, out! 263 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,640 In, out! 264 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:10,640 Like a jack-in-the-box! 265 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:13,200 In, out! 266 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:15,040 In, out! 267 00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,840 Like a jack-in-the-box! 268 00:14:19,440 --> 00:14:21,320 I want you to come and sit round, 269 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,520 I'll tell you about Brett before he comes to see us. 270 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,040 Sit down so you can hear me, come here. 271 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,880 Do you remember me telling you about Brett last week? 272 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:36,200 Remember me saying that when his mommy made him, 273 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,280 there wasn't quite enough to make arms? 274 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:40,120 How lucky you are 275 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:43,920 that your mommy managed to make arms for you. 276 00:14:44,360 --> 00:14:46,440 He's coming to see us this morning 277 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,000 with his special arm. 278 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:53,560 Hello, Brett! 279 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:57,560 How are you today? You came to see us at nursery school. 280 00:14:57,720 --> 00:14:59,400 Come and sit down here. 281 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,640 Would you like to sit at this table here? 282 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,560 Do some work at the table. 283 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:18,120 Come along. 284 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,520 He's grown up with the fact that he hasn't any arms, 285 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,080 and he accepts things so completely as they are. 286 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:28,880 He doesn't mind 287 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,320 the children asking: "Where are your arms?" 288 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,360 He'll answer them sensibly. 289 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,720 They all seem to get on very well. 290 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,360 The other children tolerate things he can't do, 291 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:41,320 and make allowances for him. 292 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:47,280 The children accept these things 293 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:51,240 if you explain to them why it happened. 294 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:54,560 Growing up, they won't look at other people 295 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,840 and be horrified by things so much. 296 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:00,480 They'll learn to accept them. 297 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:04,920 Because there's an awful lot of deformity in the world. 298 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:14,480 The parents are much more worried than the child about it. 299 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:16,400 I suppose it's just 300 00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,800 an in-born fear of any kind 301 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:21,480 of physical deformity. 302 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:24,080 Some people just can't accept it. 303 00:16:24,800 --> 00:16:26,400 We've only had one 304 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,520 who did show a slight aversion. 305 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:31,840 She was very sorry for Brett, 306 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:33,120 but she wasn't sure 307 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:35,600 if she wanted her child to mix with him. 308 00:17:00,880 --> 00:17:02,560 When he had his arm fitted, 309 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,640 he was very ready to try to use it. 310 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,120 He insisted until it got uncomfortable. 311 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:13,160 I'm hoping that the two arms will be more satisfactory. 312 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,320 He can then be with a normal class of children 313 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,280 and learn to write, 314 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,200 and to use his fingers 315 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:24,040 such as they would. 316 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,720 You can manage to put it in here for me. 317 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:45,320 You know, real school children can be very cruel 318 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:46,680 to other children. 319 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:48,160 Little ones like this 320 00:17:48,360 --> 00:17:49,440 will accept him. 321 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,840 When they get to school, they start to criticize each other. 322 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,280 I think he might find it quite hard, 323 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:57,120 if he hadn't his arm. 324 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,880 I think he's an intelligent child. 325 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:05,280 It'd be a great pity if he didn't stay with normal-thinking children. 326 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:19,240 Brett has to go to school in three months. 327 00:18:20,120 --> 00:18:22,960 We are very concerned about his inability 328 00:18:23,120 --> 00:18:24,840 to handle his toilet needs. 329 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,960 The local school hasn't accepted him yet. 330 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,040 The headmistress is reluctant. 331 00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:32,840 She's been making up her mind for months. 332 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:38,760 Listen. 333 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:42,320 How about we try with this sleeveless pullover, darling? 334 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:43,360 No! 335 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,880 You're forgetting how to use an artificial arm, now. 336 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:48,200 I'm not! 337 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:51,360 Try it on with this sleeveless pullover, 338 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:53,320 and then, see how it is. 339 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:54,640 No! 340 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:58,560 You'll forget all about it. 341 00:18:58,720 --> 00:19:02,800 It hurts with the sleeveless pullover on, too. 342 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:05,600 - Where does it hurt? - On the shoulder. 343 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,360 What if I put more padding in here? 344 00:19:09,520 --> 00:19:12,080 - That'd be alright? - That won't help it. 345 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:13,080 Why not? 346 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:14,640 Because... 347 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:19,840 I don't know! 348 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:24,320 We'll have to see if the doctors can make something better. 349 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:25,360 Alright. 350 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,560 So, research moved ahead. 351 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,160 Lady Hoare brought back from Russia a bioelectronic limb. 352 00:19:45,320 --> 00:19:48,840 It has changed the lives of the arm amputees who've worn it. 353 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:52,640 The Nielsens went to see it demonstrated. 354 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,840 That's nice. It does look like a hand. 355 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:57,480 This is 356 00:19:57,680 --> 00:20:00,760 basically made up of components coming from Russia. 357 00:20:02,360 --> 00:20:05,720 The arm itself has been made in this country. 358 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,120 Basically, it's a British arm with Russian components. 359 00:20:09,960 --> 00:20:13,880 This is the relay system and a dry cell battery. 360 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,840 - A rechargeable one, is it? - Yes, it is. 361 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:18,840 How long will it last? 362 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:20,840 They say it should last 3 days. 363 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:23,200 It depends on how much you use it. 364 00:20:23,360 --> 00:20:25,960 And it can be charged over night. 365 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:28,920 I see you have two pickup controls there. 366 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:30,640 How does this operate? 367 00:20:31,200 --> 00:20:36,160 This is worked by two electrode contacts in the socket. 368 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:40,520 It works like this: when you pull your hand round, 369 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:42,560 you're using the muscles here. 370 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:44,760 When you open it, you pull it back. 371 00:20:45,120 --> 00:20:46,920 Basically, that is it. 372 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,840 The patient has only got to think about this. 373 00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,440 There's no physical effort. 374 00:20:52,600 --> 00:20:55,520 Is there any sensitivity in regards to feel 375 00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:56,880 or pressure with it? 376 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:58,800 The patient says, 377 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,520 when they hold something, 378 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:02,760 they feel they've got hold of it. 379 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:06,360 They can feel this being transmitted... 380 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:07,600 It's what they say. 381 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,960 But to my mind, at the moment, the thing I like is, 382 00:21:11,120 --> 00:21:14,160 it's a nice, relatively smooth, controlled action. 383 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:17,200 But it only provides one function, right? 384 00:21:17,360 --> 00:21:19,120 Gripping and picking things up. 385 00:21:20,440 --> 00:21:22,640 Once a patient gets used to it, 386 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:24,800 he can close it in stages 387 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:26,600 and open it in stages. 388 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:32,960 This will be of so greater value in the future, 389 00:21:33,120 --> 00:21:35,760 as soon as it is adapted for children. 390 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:38,200 Many children, besides Brett, need help. 391 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:40,560 Like David Bickers. 392 00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:44,360 He was with his mother at the hospital the Nielsens visited. 393 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,040 By sighting the valve controls right there, 394 00:22:18,200 --> 00:22:22,960 and then use the gas powered equipment 395 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:25,760 That's promising for the children 396 00:22:25,920 --> 00:22:28,320 if we can get the right pickup points. 397 00:22:28,480 --> 00:22:30,680 We could use them for that purpose, 398 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:34,280 with other types of equipments, like the Russian one. 399 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:37,640 What can you do, David? 400 00:22:38,120 --> 00:22:40,360 - I do painting. - You do painting? 401 00:22:40,520 --> 00:22:42,000 - Toys. - Yes. 402 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,000 - Drums. - Yes. 403 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,040 Do you like using your arms? 404 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:47,280 You do. 405 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,480 What can be done with the limbs they have? 406 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:55,040 Most of these children have operations to free constricting skin 407 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:56,480 and exercises 408 00:22:56,640 --> 00:22:59,720 that stretch tiny fingers and legs to develop them. 409 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,680 For every ordinary event in living 410 00:23:04,280 --> 00:23:06,800 is a challenge to a handicapped child. 411 00:23:20,640 --> 00:23:22,680 One thing is important: 412 00:23:22,840 --> 00:23:26,520 that mothers should make it perfectly clear 413 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:28,480 to a child likely to be teased, 414 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:31,000 that they will not grow arms. 415 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:34,880 I've heard children ask their mothers 416 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,080 about their arms: 417 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,000 "When I'm a big man, I'll have arms, won't I?" 418 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,280 And the mother would avoid it. 419 00:23:43,440 --> 00:23:46,440 "Let's come into the shop and buy some sweeties." 420 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:48,360 One day, that child is going 421 00:23:48,520 --> 00:23:51,160 to suddenly be faced with the horrible fact. 422 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,440 "Why didn't you tell me I will never have any arms?" 423 00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:00,320 I think it's very important that they know the absolute truth. 424 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,440 This quest helped Brett's parents with their own handicap: 425 00:24:09,320 --> 00:24:10,560 self-pity. 426 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:14,080 It inevitably haunts families with a crippled child. 427 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:15,680 Because, then, 428 00:24:16,600 --> 00:24:17,880 one can see 429 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,440 our child's handicap from the right perspective. 430 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:22,760 It isn't so grave. 431 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,800 Here are other children far, far worse off. 432 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:29,040 Yet, we are feeling so sorry for ourselves. 433 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:32,800 If the mother realizes, 434 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:35,760 that there are hundreds of other mothers 435 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,320 with far worse problems, 436 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:40,360 then one doesn't feel alone. 437 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:44,040 And the children learn this, too. 438 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:55,360 What's this? 439 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:57,280 What's this? 440 00:24:57,800 --> 00:25:00,720 Go to that boy up there. Go give it to him. 441 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,880 These boys have a spinal defect. 442 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:18,400 They'll be bedridden for the rest of their limited lives. 443 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:19,880 In Britain, 444 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,800 800 children are born every year with that same handicap. 445 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,440 - What colour? - Yours is orange. 446 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,800 - What colour's mine? - Yours is the white one. 447 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:33,400 Say bye to Ken. 448 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:34,360 Bye. 449 00:25:34,520 --> 00:25:35,520 Goodbye, Ken. 450 00:25:35,680 --> 00:25:37,120 Come along, Mark. 451 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:39,440 - Goodbye to the boy. - Goodbye. 452 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:48,320 Come on, Brett. Time to go home. 453 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:55,840 Feel the weight of that. 454 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:58,120 My God, that's surprising, isn't it? 455 00:25:58,280 --> 00:25:59,720 You feel that, Barb. 456 00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:02,760 Very heavy, indeed. 457 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:07,120 What type of hand do you normally use? A terminal device, or... 458 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:10,680 A mechanical hand with a control board on the inside. 459 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:14,080 The search led the Nielsens to a factory where the arms are made. 460 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,600 It has 10.000 clients on the NHS 461 00:26:17,760 --> 00:26:19,280 in Great Britain alone. 462 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,800 This visit helped to calm their anxieties about Brett's future. 463 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,960 What job could he hold? What about marriage? 464 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,840 For one third of the employees of this factory 465 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:32,720 are handicapped themselves. 466 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,000 This is the progress department where the limbs... 467 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:40,680 Through having Brett, 468 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,640 the Nielsens discovered what "handicap" means, 469 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:45,080 in day-to-day living. 470 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,000 Feeding oneself, 471 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,440 washing, brushing one's hair. 472 00:26:57,440 --> 00:27:00,040 The Nielsens' search began 12,000 miles away 473 00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:01,320 in Australia. 474 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:03,960 Powered limbs are so new 475 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:06,680 they had to come to England to find them. 476 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:09,480 The search is not over. 477 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:12,800 The movements are still frustratingly simple, 478 00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,120 but some children older than Brett 479 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:18,560 have already learnt to write and to feed themselves, 480 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:21,320 thus unlocking the chains of dependence 481 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:23,200 that bind their future. 482 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:26,160 This is the challenge. 483 00:27:27,760 --> 00:27:29,200 It's no less difficult 484 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:32,240 than what other handicapped people have faced before 485 00:27:32,400 --> 00:27:34,720 in separate, personal struggles. 486 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,000 Like Brett's.