Man needs bionic arms to keep teaching

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Co-workers are rallying to raise money for a Baldwin County teacher so he can get back in the classroom after two serious accidents.

Jay Weston lost both of his hands in two separate accidents.

He lost his left hand in 2002 in a lawn mower accident.

Weston was able to keep his job teaching second graders at Summerdale Elementary until he lost his right hand three months ago in a chainsaw accident.

He said, "With one hand, I was able to function well, but, with no hands, unfortunately, the job just cannot be done."

And, if you wonder why you need hands to teach second graders, Weston said, "Science, math, almost everything, we assemble different projects, we disassemble projects, and, of course, it takes hands to work with the children to demonstrate it, and then to help them."

Weston said doctors told him about new technology for prosthetic or what some people call bionic hands.

He said, "The hands and arm are almost natural in the movements they make. They can make 13 different movements. Each finger moves. You can do virtually anything you can with a normal hand."

Weston said insurance will pay some of the expense, but he needs to come up with about $45,000 to buy the arms.

His fellow teachers have been looking for ways to help him, and have settled on a fundraiser to be held Sunday in Fairhope.

Vickie Kilgore also teaches at Summerdale Elementary and is a friend of Weston's.

She said, "The kids love him. He's very dear to my heart. We all want him back. I miss having him. I miss having him a lot in second grade."

If he can raise the money, Weston said he hopes to be back teaching second grade by the start of next school year.

When asked what it meant for him to get back in the classroom, Weston said, "That is my calling. That is my life."

The benefit for Jay Weston is being held Sunday at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope from noon to 5pm.

There will be food, entertainment, and door prizes.

A benefit is being held for Weston at Oak Hollow Farms in Fairhope Sunday, December 2, from noon to 5 p.m.