Josh used to say he’d be better off dead … now he’s getting a new arm our boy has got his happiness back

A schoolboy who was badly bullied after being born with only one arm is to get a £42,000 robotic replacement thanks to his uncle.

All nine-year-old Josh Cathcart has ever wanted is to be like the other boys at his school. He was born with his right arm missing from the elbow down and was subjected to daily taunts over the disability which left him wishing he was dead.

Now thanks to a generous relative in Australia delighted Josh is to be fitted with a bionic robo-arm to help give him his happiness back.

The youngster has already been to test one of the amazing arms, to make sure it was suitable for him and dad James, 32, admits seeing his son so thrilled moved him to tears.

Wife Clare, 33, of Dalgety Bay, Fife, is equally moved, as her wee boy has discovered his smile again.

“Everyone says what a great smile and laugh Josh has,” Clare said. “He’s not had that for a long time. He was smiling and laughing again when we were at Touch Bionics trying out the arm. It gave him his happiness back. It means the world to us to see him be the happy boy he was.”

James and Clare said bullies made their outgoing son withdrawn and angry.

Clare said: “Josh was getting picked on and called names at school. When you hear what other kids have called him it really hurts. He comes home and tells you what they’ve called him. James and I sit and cry about it.”

Landscape gardener James said: “Josh said he would be better off dead. It’s hard to hear a nine-year-old boy say that. Sometimes you forget he only has one arm but then things happen and you realise the toll it takes on him.”

Doctors discovered the missing limb during an ultrasound scan when Josh was still in the womb.

Clare said: “We realised this would affect our baby but we would love and care of him. He’s the best son anyone could wish for.”

Josh’s disability makes some tasks difficult. He’s been hospitalised twice with concussion because he can’t protect himself if he falls. The family have already endured the pain of a lost limb as James’ dad Eddie, 60, lost a leg in a serious accident when he was 34.

James said: “I grew up with dad’s disability and watched him cope well through many tough challenges. Dad was upset when he found out about Josh’s disability because he knew how hard it would be for him.”

James also lost a finger in a work-based accident when he was younger.

He said: “We knew there could be the same huge challenges for Josh, living with a limb loss so we were prepared, perhaps more so than other families.”

Nurse Clare was delighted when a doctor at her work said Josh could benefit from a robotic arm and suggested she make inquiries. Josh responded so quickly to the test arm he amazed technicians at bionic limb company, Touch Bionics. The family then set about raising the money needed to buy the revolutionary arm. Within 24 hours they’d amassed an impressive £1,700. And they got an even bigger surprise when James’ uncle Bill McCartney said he’d put up the rest of the cash.

The family, including Josh’s wee sister Lacey, seven, now hope he’ll be fitted with the arm this summer.

The gadget has several skins which can be changed. James’ favourite is the cool black one.

“He loves the robotic look but what kid wouldn’t,” James said.

And family and friends have vowed to keep fundraising as Josh will need on-going care and a replacement arm in a few years after he’s grown.

Josh, who loves football and plays as a winger for local team Hillfield Swifts, hopes the hi-tech limb, which perfectly imitates and moves just like a real arm, will make him even better at sport.

“I’m really excited about getting it,” he said. “It will make me feel I’m the same as everyone else. It will make me happy.”

James added: “His confidence will improve because he’ll have the two arms he’s always wanted.”

To donate to Josh’s fund, go to http://www.gofundme.com/sr9hb9h8