Middle schooler gets more mobility thanks to engineering students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – An East Tipp Midddle School student who has used a prosthetic leg almost all his life has more mobility. It’s all thanks to some Purdue University engineering students.

Alex Morgan is a 13-year-old who enjoys playing with his brothers and playing sports, especially baseball. But since he was nine months old he’s had to wear a prosthetic leg.

“He’s a twin and he was born with fibular hemimelia and that means he’s missing the smaller bone in his lower leg,” said Carrie Morgan, Alex’s mother.

Through one of Alex’s teammates, Purdue students in the EPICS engineering program came into the picture in August. They worked to make him a foot that would give him more mobility.

“After a semester in EPICS, we had most of the theoretical design completed. So, we decided to roll it out to senior design, create a whole new team that could work on it, rather than one or two days a week, we work on it five days a week. Really just pick up the pace and get this thing finished before we all graduate,” said Haley Smith, a senior in mechanical engineering.

The group presented the new foot to Alex and his family on Wednesday.

“They made the ankle in it, so it can move more. And they made the toe so it could actually bend,” said Alex.

“This is our third meeting this semester with an actual foot to try on. The first one, we had some pretty major areas that we needed improvement on. The second one, for the most part, worked but we had some parts where we need machines, so to come here and have no issues with it whatsoever, it’s incredible,” said Smith.

Alex said his dream is to play baseball at Harrison High School.

“He’s played several, and still does, played several sports. So, it hasn’t held him back any,” said Carrie.

Carries said the new foot will take some getting used to. She said they plan to slowly work it into to his regime. They’re still thinking it will be a hit.