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High-Tech Prosthetics Serve Human Amputees—and Disabled Animals

In 1993, at the age of 16, Maja Kazazic lost her leg in a bombing in Bosnia. She later immigrated to the United States and became a successful businesswoman in Florida. But it wasn’t until Maja met Winter, a dolphin with a prosthetic tail, that she realized her own range of motion could be restored, through the help of an advanced prosthetic leg.

Published Nov. 30 2009 8:54AM EST

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-9_duxvah — Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-9_jol7ot — Maja Kazazic takes a walk on the beach with her high-tech prosthetic leg.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-13_n0cgc0 — Maja Kazazic with Winter the dolphin. Winter is missing her tail and sometimes swims with a prosthetic.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-3_seut6r — Maja swims with Winter.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-8_ezbtix — Maja Kazazic at Hanger, the prosthetics company that designed Winter's skin and Maja's new leg. Adjustments are done via a PDA and Bluetooth connecting to the microprocessor in the prosthetic leg.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-6_grua7t — Maja Kazazic in her bathroom.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-5_xketvo — One of Maja Kazazic's original, low-tech prosthetics at home.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-2_b0fzuk — Winter seen with a prosthetic tail.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-1_aq4ged — Maja Kazazic with Winter the dolphin. Winter is missing her tail and sometimes swims with a prosthetic.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-11_khsrf8 — Maja Kazazic plays golf at a nearby course.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-10_jj4sl0 — Maja Kazazic taking tennis lessons.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-12_foib1x — Maja Kazazic at home.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo

galleries/2009/11/30/high-tech-prosthetics-serve-human-amputees-and-disabled-animals/dolphin-prosthetic-4_s8xbtj — Maja Kazazic drinks and cooks Bosnian food with friends and her parents, Azra and Mugdim.
Ron Haviv / VII Photo