A boy born with no left hand is now thriving after receiving a “life-changing” bionic prosthetic – but it came at an eye-watering price.

When Louise Bennett fell pregnant with her third child, her first with husband, Alex, 44, she was overjoyed – but then, at her 16-week scan, every parent’s worst fear came true when medics confirmed the foetus hadn’t formed properly.

Their baby, Mason, didn’t have a left hand and the 45-year-old was left feeling “absolutely heartbroken” about the future of her unborn child.

But now, eight years later, he’s proved her doubts wrong with his unexpected progress – and his future has gotten a little brighter after receiving a bionic “Iron Man” arm.

“He’s now able to do the things he struggled with before, such as opening and eating a bag of crisps,” Louise, a stay-at-home mum from Liverpool, told http://NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“It’s given our family such happiness and excitement about what the future holds for him.”

Louise, who has two children from a previous relationship, and her husband, who also has another child [not named for privacy reasons], recalls the “utter shock” at finding out about his disability.

She said: “It’s not something we ever expected to hear and I’ve never felt shock like it.

“It was as if I had been punched in the stomach and my initial reaction was fear, worry, and uncertainty about what my gorgeous baby boy’s life would be like.

“Any parent hearing that their child will be born with a disability will obviously evoke a lot of emotions – but 99% of our worries went as soon as he was born.”

Mason, while always trying to push himself further, has run into setbacks along the way.

The mum said: “In school, he has struggled with cutting paper, writing with a pen, holding and turning the pages of a book.

“Just the little things that wouldn’t even cross the minds of people with two hands.

“Mason has never known any different, but he is aware that he’s not like the other kids.

“He once asked when his other hand would grow, which for me, was absolutely heartbreaking.

“But I reassured him and now, he embraces it.

“He loves football and Formula 1, which we were worried about at first, but he’s taken it in his stride.

“Alex remembers him saying that he could never be like his idols, but then I introduced him to the disabled racing team, Team Brit, and he’s been hooked ever since.”

Mason had been offered a non-functioning prosthetic arm on the NHS, but when he discovered the “Iron Man” bionic, he fell in love.

The arm has six sensors, which work with the muscles to determine the movement of the hand and grip.

But it came at a costly price – £12,699.

Louise said: “After seeing his face when he tested the arm, I knew there and then that I would do anything for him to get it.

“I remember hearing the cost and being so overwhelmed.

“But we set up a fundraising page and within a month, we had raised enough.

“It’s given him great independence and it’s such a joy seeing how proud he is over his arm.

“It’s not even a conscious thought now that he has only one hand.

“Obviously, when challenges arise then it can be stressful and upsetting – but these aren’t just regular issues.

“But he amazes us every day and is one incredible little boy.

“We’re so lucky to be our ‘superhero’s’ parents.”

ENDS