Former college baseball pitcher given new prosthetic arm after his was stolen
After having his prosthetic arm stolen from his car along with thousands of dollars worth of equipment in May, former college baseball pitcher Parker Hanson is finally getting a new arm with the help of the hospital he’s been going to since he was 8 years old.
On Friday, Hanson visited the Shriners Children’s Twin Cities hospital near Sioux Falls, Iowa to get his arm fitted. Though he has since aged out of the hospital, the health care professionals there gifted him the arm.
“It went full circle getting a new arm after this whole ordeal, for a while there I was down in the dumbs,” Hanson said.
Hanson’s stolen prosthetic was eventually recovered at a recycling plant but after his story helped bring in plenty of donations, he decided to get a new prosthetic, according to Argus Leader.
While at the hospital, Hanson visited Becky Born, the prosthetist that he has visited since he was a young boy. She has helped build Hanson six custom limbs.
Hanson was born without a left hand.
“Every prosthetic I’ve had in my life has come from Shriners,” he said.
With the donations he received, Hanson presented the hospital with a $7,000 check initially meant for a new limb.
Long before he gained notoriety with the story of his stolen arm, Hanson said his goal was to be a good influence for others with disabilities.
“I want to be a person who you can turn to if you have disabilities,” he said.
After finishing his college baseball career, the Augustana University pitcher is not ready to finish playing the sport he loves.
“I’m not closing the door on baseball entirely either, I still want to sign a contract either this summer or next year,” Hanson said, “I’ll stay ready if there’s an opportunity for me to play.”
Hanson also plans on doing more public speaking engagements as a way of lifting up those living with disabilities.
