Thanks to new technology, one veteran is able to overcome the challenges of his debilitating condition.

Steven Hix, a U.S. veteran and former dentist based in Huntsville, NC, has just become the first American ALS patient to receive and use a robotic arm.

The robotic arm is attached to his power chair. Using controls located on the arm of his chair, Hix can control the robotic arm with simple finger movements. In the photo above, the arm is adeptly moving a cup from the counter to Hix’s lap.

Lou Gehrig’s disease, better known as ALS, is a condition that attacks the nervous system and deteriorates muscle control. While their minds are spry, ALS patients have difficulty holding or carrying objects with the same balance and agility. Hix was diagnosed with ALS in 2011, and this new technology will help him perform daily tasks that had once been impossible. WSOC-TV has the full story.

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