A dancer who had her left arm amputated after a road accident at age six has just become one of the first people in New Zealand to get an i-limb quantum - a type of prosthetic limb.
Brylee Mills' story featured on Seven Sharp last night after reporter Carolyn Robinson spent the past few months following her journey.
"Our van flipped and I got caught underneath the van. And my left arm was crushed, and right arm was quite significantly damaged as well," Brylee, now 22, recalled.
Her left arm was amputated just hours later, but three weeks later she was back dancing.
In 2014, Brylee was accepted into a prestigious Sydney dance school, but just as she was due to leave New Zealand was involved in another car accident in which her ankle was shattered.
"It was kind of one of those 'life is unfair' moments. I was at the top of my game and I'd trained so hard and was just about to go and achieve massive dream I'd always had."
She was in a wheelchair for three months and crutches for another six, and was told she wouldn't dance to the level she really wanted to again.
"My six-year-old self got through that hard patch, so when it happened again to me at 17 I thought 'if she can get through I can get through this one'."
After a year of rehab and hard work, Brylee made it to Sydney.
The i-limb works using muscle signals from the remaining part of the limb. When the muscles contract, electrodes pick up signals and send a message to the arm to move.
Brylee has also just had surgery on her remaining arm because of overuse.
Even her bionic arm takes work on her part, and she hopes it'll become natural because the robotic limb promises a fully functional hand.
Brylee has found a calling as a motivational speaker, sharing her story to help others live through theirs.
"It's crazy to think, but I'm almost grateful for the things that have happened because I've learned so much and been able to do so much because if it," the inspiring woman said.
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