SALEM, Ore. – Dawson Riverman was born without fingers on his left hand, and growing up, it was always a dream of his to have the same athletic opportunities as all other kids his age. Now with a custom-made 3D-printed left hand, Dawson has those opportunities, and many more. On Wednesday at Corban University, Dawson was given the chance to experience just what it is like to be a Warrior baseball player, and it was an experience that he will have with him for the rest of his life.
---Photo Gallery from the big day---
“When Dawson was born without fingers on his left hand, it was a complete surprise,” said Dawson’s mother, Dawn. “We tried for a few years to help his fingers grow, and I even thought about giving him my toes, but ultimately, the doctors said that would not work.”
One in 1,000 infants is born with missing fingers, and others lose fingers and hands to injury, according to a study in the New York Times.
“We continued to let Dawson know that God makes every single one of us special, and Dawson is one of his children,” said Dawn.
Dawson’s love for sports began at a young age, as he enjoys the sports of soccer, basketball, and baseball. Constantly looking at various options to give Dawson, who is now 13 years old and attends Life Christian School in Aloha, Ore., the opportunity to play these sports, the Rivermans met Corban University’s David Sanford.
Sanford put the family in touch with some of his connections he had, ultimately leading the family to connect with the company: E-Nable.
E-Nable, which is an online volunteer organization, matches children like Dawson in need of prosthetic hands and fingers with volunteers able to make them the hands on 3D printers. Incredibly, the designs can be downloaded into these 3D-printing machines for no charge, and members who create new models simply share their software plans freely with others.
When E-Nable had finished printing the hand for Dawson, it was an immediate hit.
Ever since originally being connected with Corban, Dawson’s new dream was to be able to hang out with the Corban University Warrior baseball team. When Head Coach Jeff McKay heard about Dawson, he invited the young man to join the Warriors for their first official home game of the season on Wednesday, March 18, 2015.
The day with the Warriors would be one that Dawson would never forget.
After having lunch on campus in the dining hall, Dawson headed over to the Warrior Athletics’ offices where he met Coach McKay and staff. One of the first items of business was to sign his official Letter of Intent with the Warriors.
Then, he got to tour the offices, see his name on Corban’s recruiting board, and after that it was time to go get a tour of Warrior Field prior to warming up for the game.
After touring the baseball facilities, Dawson began warming up with the Warriors about two hours prior to the start of the game against the George Fox University Bruins. While taking part in stretching activities, ball shagging, playing catch, batting practice, and team meetings, Dawson experienced the full extent of a Warrior pre-game warmup.
All of these things, made possible not only because of his 3D-printed hand, but because of the incredible courage of the 13-year old teen, led up to the ceremonial first pitch. Dawson’s younger brother, Seth, who also was able to take part in these pregame activities as well, received a special opportunity from Dawson. Dawson handed Seth the ball before the game, letting Seth know that this was his big moment. Seth took the ball and fired in towards home plate, throwing a sizzling strike that brought the Warrior fans in attendance to their feet.
“It was really a blessing for Dawson and his family to join our Warrior family for a day,” said Corban University head baseball coach Jeff McKay. “Our players and coaches gave of themselves, but also were inspired by Dawson and how he and his family handle his challenge. I believe God is honored in his heart by his courage. It was such good timing also to have them for our home-opening game.”
Throughout the course of the game, Dawson got to hang out in the dugout with the Warriors, watching as Corban jumped out to a big lead early and held on for an 11-8 victory over George Fox. Following the conclusion of the contest, all of the players and coaches on the team signed gloves, balls, caps, jerseys, t-shirts, and left Dawson and his family with a lasting impression.
“I cannot put into words the way everyone made our family feel yesterday,” said Dawn. “We could never thank Corban and the baseball team enough for what they have done for our family. I am speechless for what the Warriors did for Dawson, opening up the school, treating us like royalty, and signing Dawson to the team is just beyond words.”
As the Riverman family left Warrior Field with the sun setting over the coastal mountain range towards the Pacific Ocean, the Rivermans reflected on the day as a whole.
“The baseball team and staff are the most amazing group of people I have ever had the opportunity to meet, and the team treated our boys and Dawson’s best friend as if they were a part of the team,” said Dawn. “Dawson could not stop talking about it all the way home. None of us wanted the day to end.”
Seeing the types of things that the 3D-printed hand can do for Dawson, he and his family raised enough money to be able to purchase a 3D printer themselves, and now their goal is to help make 3D-printed hands for those all around the world. In particular, Dawson and his family would like to help those in Haiti who were hurt during the recent earthquake, providing opportunities for them that they may have never had or even known about before.
Dawson is the same as any other 13-year old you might meet. He can do anything and everything that he puts his mind to. Sometimes, courage and belief can go beyond the realms of what was believed to be possible.
“It was awesome to be able to be with the Corban baseball team,” said Dawson. “It was a dream come true.”
