When 9-year-old Alvin Garcia Flores received a new 3D-printed prosthetic arm in front of his classmates and friends last week, it was a doubly awesome surprise. Not only did the boy get his special Christmas wish fulfilled, but the “Star Wars” fan received it from none other than Darth Vader.
Alvin, who was born with a right arm that ends below the elbow, was surprised with the custom-made prosthetic at a school assembly last week. Darth Vader, two stormtroopers, an imperial officer and a droid -- all volunteers from the 501st Legion, a “Star Wars” fan group -- made the special delivery, The Associated Press reported.
“I was shocked,” the boy told WOWT.com.
According to 3Ders.org, Alvin had asked for a “bionic arm” for Christmas. What he didn’t realize, however, was that his principal at Gateway Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska, was scheming to make that wish come true in the most memorable way possible.
Last year, principal Terry Burton reached out to Limbitless Solutions, a student-led Florida nonprofit, to see if it could help create a prosthetic arm for Alvin. The charity, which provides children with 3D-printed prosthetic arms free of charge, agreed to take on the challenge.
Once Alvin’s arm was completed, the group reached out to the 501st Legion to deliver the prosthetic to its rightful owner.
“I hope that the arm gives Alvin more self-confidence at school around his peers,” Burton said in a press release.
Alvin’s mom told WOWT.com that “the sight of her son being cheered on by his classmates” after receiving his new arm brought a huge smile to her face.