Fearless Fourth Grader Learns to Express Herself Through Music

Born with a congenital limb difference affecting her left hand, fourth-grader Litzi Ruiz Ortiz has never let it stop her from doing the things she loves most, like drawing, riding her bike, competing in sports, and playing the violin. With the support of Hanger Clinic’s Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialty Network and the Hanger Fabrication Network, Litzi participates with confidence wearing a custom-fit partial hand prosthesis designed just for her.

Born This Way

Litzi’s parents, Cain and Concepcion, recall the moment they first learned of her limb difference. Despite extra ultrasounds during pregnancy, nothing was detected until birth. Immediately following delivery, doctors reassured them that Litzi would learn to adapt to her partial hand limb difference.

“I was afraid she wouldn’t be able to be independent,” Litzi’s father Cain shared. “But her physician at Children’s Wisconsin helped us put things into perspective and encouraged us to let her figure things out.”

From that moment, they decided not to let Litzi’s limb difference define her. Litzi’s parents consistently encouraged her to try new things, reiterating that with the right mindset, anything is possible.

Discovering Upper Limb Prosthetic Care

As Litzi grew, her parents and care team at Children’s Wisconsin noticed she struggled with certain tasks. At two years old, Litzi and her family found themselves at the Milwaukee Hanger Clinic, where Litzi began receiving upper limb prosthetic care. Litzi was introduced to Hanger Clinic Pediatric Specialist and prosthetist Mafer Larraga Martinez, CPO, who designed a custom upper limb prosthesis for Litzi, with help from clinical resident Hannah Mullan, MSOP, and Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialist Tom Current, CPO.

Once Litzi’s partial hand prosthesis prototype was designed, it was sent to the team at the Hanger Fabrication Network (HFN) facility in Phoenix, Arizona. Using high-quality materials and advanced 3D printing technology, the HFN team—comprised of clinicians, technicians, designers, and engineers—crafted her prosthesis with precision.

Her family describes their experience with Mafer and the team at the Milwaukee Hanger Clinic as overwhelmingly positive. Her mother Concepcion shared, “Everyone has been really great to work with and supportive of Litzi’s goals.” Now, Litzi’s custom partial hand prosthesis enables her to participate in daily activities and features various attachments, allowing her to easily switch between activity-specific devices for biking, sports, and music. 

Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialty Network

The Hanger Clinic Upper Limb Prosthetic Specialty Network features the nation’s leading experts in upper limb prosthetics and is comprised of nearly 100 upper limb prosthetists across the United States.

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The Healing Power of Music

Litzi’s love for music began in third grade when she received a violin at school. To assist Litzi in playing, her music teacher restrung her instrument to allow her to play the violin left-handed, an instrument that is almost universally played right-handed. 

To help ensure that Litzi could continue learning and expressing herself through music, her care team consulted with professional violinist Adrian Anantawan, who also uses a prosthesis to play his instrument. Adrian provided the team with insight to help design a prosthetic component that would support Litzi in playing the violin.

Recently, through an instrument donation drive for children held by the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music, Litzi received a violin of her very own.

The Senior Director of Education, John Bragle, even attended one of Litzi’s appointments to ensure the instrument was customized to fit Litzi’s needs and provided her with tips and advice to help Litzi continue to develop her musical talents. Litzi is excited to continue playing the violin and looks forward to all the possibilities life has to offer.