Lifelike prosthetic limbs give life to the amputees

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03:25

CGTN

Stretching and touching are one of the basic forms of human's communication with the outside world.

However, some people have unfortunately lost such abilities.

Thanks to the medical and technological development, burnt skin can be healed, lost limbs can be replaced with prostheses, though they are no longer same as the original ones. Some people feel inferior, wishing to look and be treated once again like others. It'd make them more confident.

CGTN Photo

"Many of our customers had their limbs amputated after an accident or a disease. They always show up with their hands in the pocket or behind their backs," said Xue. "By mending their bodies, our products can help them recover their self-confidence.

Xue Wei is a prosthesis technician. /CGTN Photo

Xue brought the technology from the Netherlands to China in 1998, after his graduation there.

"Silicone is mainly consisted of silicon dioxide, which is good at temperature resistance and has a good thermoplastic stability. It also fits the texture of human skin," said Xue. He shapes and polishes the silicone products like making sculptures, and then tone the color to match the customer's skins.

CGTN Photo

In the end, silicone prostheses so produced look in such a way that people would find it really hard to tell them from the real ones. "Nobody has the same hands like any other's." Xue introduced his products. "We want the hand print and the nails' color of the prosthetic hands to be as same as the healthy one."

CGTN Photo

Xue still remembers his first customer, a staff of an electric power company who had her feet amputated after an accident. When Xue helped her fitting the silicone foot, she has her tears dropped on his head. The customer said: "Now I feel both of my feet back!"

Many amputees experience phantom limb sensations. Xue's products can relieve such symptoms to some extent, which is helpful both psychologically and emotionally.

CGTN Photo

Gradually, Xue puts a lot more of his time and emotions into the process. He believes that, in the end, limbs are about feelings and sensations, postures and expressions. "You need to feel your life. Feel the emotions and everything."

The story is one in The 1.3 Billion series exploring the diverse lives that make up China.