Miracles are in the making at ARTech Laboratory, Inc. in Midlothian.
ARTech’s team of technicians, sculptors and painters make silicone appendages. Owner Mike Holt says they are one of only four labs in the country that make life-like prosthetics for every part of the body.
“We started this business in my garage, my brother and I,” said Holt. His staff of fourteen employees molds, sculpts and paints noses, feet and everything in between.
“It is human nature to want to feel whole, to want to feel like accepted,” Holt said.
ARTech has helped thousand of patients replace what is missing for the last 22 years. Many of the patients are from Texas; some come from as far as South Africa.
One of the lab’s newer patients — Jennifer Campbell — has inspired them to go above and beyond.
“Hands down, losing my -- both legs was not as hard as losing my fingers,” says Campbell.
WFAA first interviewed the mother of two in August, 2016. She is a double-leg amputee and has no fingertips. Doctors were forced to amputate after a case of the flu in 2014 led to sepsis in her hands and feet.
"I go and I pay for something and I put out my hand and the clerk, you know, will be alarmed or uncomfortable because of my hands,” the 42-year-old teacher explained.
Campbell has learned to overcome the functional limits of her hands. However, she says their physical appearance haunts her every second of every day.
"My mom used to always hold my hands and tell me all the time that I have beautiful hands,” she explained, wiping away tears. “It's been hard, just — my kids even — just trying to hold my hand.”
WFAA recently caught up with Campbell on Feb. 5 at ARTech. She assumed she was there to discuss getting new prosthetic legs. After her interview, Mike Holt revealed the true reason she was at his lab.
“It is such a blessing to us to see the courage and the strength that you show,” Holt said. “We would like for your hands to look normal again."
Tears streamed down Campbell’s face as she learned ARTech will absorb the cost of creating a set of prosthetic, silicone hands for her.
"I'm so grateful,” she said, overcome with emotion. “I have been blessed with so many people that have helped me in this battle and it’s definitely taken a village.”
Campbell first met with a prosthetist to discuss the possibility of getting prosthetic hands in 2106. She was told her fingers are considered functional, so prosthetics would be “cosmetic” — medical insurance would not pay for them.
"To be told that they didn't want to take me on as a patient because there was not financial benefit for them was a low-blow.” She decided then to close the door on getting prosthetic fingers.
Holt says Campbell’s set of hands would cost $25,000 out of pocket. "We have patients that have gone to the bank and borrowed money against their house to buy a foot or a hand,” he said.
Campbell will return to ARTech to try on her prosthetic hands about three weeks after taking impressions. She says she looks forward to simply holding hands with her children and husband.
“Just feeling whole again.”
ARTech produces approximately 700 prostheses each year. Past ARTech clients include Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer whose arm was bitten off by a shark in 2013, and bronze-model Paralympic Snowboarder Amy Purdy, who recently competed on Dancing With the Stars.