Lucky Fins Rule!
If you’ve seen anyone with a Lucky Fin, chances are you probably didn’t even notice anything different about them. You might have seen them playing catch, climbing, running around and having fun!
The Lucky Fin Project is an organization which was created by Molly Stapleman in 2010. Their goal is to “celebrate, educate, support, and unite families and individuals with limb differences.” Molly based the name “Lucky Fin” off of the title character “Nemo” from Finding Nemo-- who didn’t allow his smaller fin to stop him from accomplishing great things. In the same spirit, the Lucky Fin Project was founded.
Molly found that the term “Lucky Fin” was a far easier term to say than more technical sounding names such as: symbrachydactyly, amniotic band syndrome or radial dysplasia. These limb differences happen during pregnancy, so usually parents don’t even know about them until the child is born. However, it’s Molly’s mission to show the world that being born with a “Lucky Fin” isn’t exclusively a curse. Since 2010, Molly has been making bracelets celebrating limb difference and sending them out all over the planet. As of this moment, she has sent out more than 10,400 bracelets!
One of the goals of the Lucky Fin Project is to break the stereotypes surrounding limb difference. This organization and the people who are a part of it are all key examples of what individuals with limb differences can do when they set their minds to it. In fact, being born with a limb difference can have a positive effect on a child’s problem solving abilities. Dan Stapleman is quoted as saying, “We’ve kind of hypothesized that, because of [limb differences] these kids are born problem solvers. They figure out ways to do things and they just grow to be these incredible kids with incredible minds, because out of necessity, they’ve had to use that part of their brain.”
Caiti Riley, an amputee herself and founder of the Amputeez apparel company is quoted saying, “People ask me, if I wish that I was born with two well-functioning legs, and the answer is no! I like who I am now, and who knows who I would be if that wasn’t the case.”
Many of the members of the Lucky Fin Family are models, athletes, actors, and musicians who are making the best of a bad situation. One inspiring story comes from George Dennehy-- a man who was born without arms. George is a very talented musician who plays a number of instruments with only his feet. By the age of eight, George had learned to play the Cello, and in the following years he became so talented that he began playing with regional orchestras. Since then, George has developed a passion for playing the guitar and piano, and he has even released several songs online. Click here or on the image below to see him playing a song he wrote.
Another great story is found in a man named Hilmi from Singapore-- an entrepreneur and family man who was born without his left thumb. “Hi I'm Hilmi and I'm 33 years old. I’m happily married with 3 beautiful children. I own a design and printing company. And yes, I was born without a thumb on my left hand. My life motto is ‘I'm not unique but I'm limited edition.’”
Limb differences are just another way that people are unique! For more information about the Lucky Fin Project, you can visit their website by clicking here. Also make sure to like them on Facebook.
Click here to see a short video about them.