GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A month after 4-year-old Harmony Taylor received a prosthetic right hand from the West Catholic High School robotics team, the girl's mother says it has been life-changing gift

"She loves having a right hand," said Harmony's mother, Melanie Peterman, about the body powered 3D printed prosthetic "Robohand" that reacts to motions in the girl's hand. "She is able to do so many more things now, such as put toothpaste on her own toothbrush, things we take for granted."

Related: Cedar Springs preschooler gets a Robohand for Christmas from West Catholic's robotics team

Harmony, a preschooler in Cedar Springs, was born with a condition called Limb Differences that resulted in her not having any fingers on her right hand. Harmony's preschool teacher researched Robohands online and forged a relationship with the high school.

On Friday, Jan. 17, Peterman planned to return the hand to the West Catholic team to make several adjustments to the glove-like covering that is fitted in thermoplastic and has fingers connected to it. She said the modifications include removing the elastic straps so the fingers move a little more freely and changing the cuff so it fits better.

Mary Beth Zakfeld, West Catholic's robotics coach, said the team will again be working with David Firlik, who is certified in prosthesis with Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Center.

"The students continue to be very excited about working on Harmony's hand, and we are exploring a partnership with Mary Free Bed to utilize this technology more," she said.

She said the team has already received an anonymous $500 donation to use toward purchasing their own 3D printer to build future devices, and she expects to be able to raise more.

Bill McCarthy, who has ties to West Catholic, used his 3D printer to make the parts for Harmony. Harmony's Cedar Trails Elementary teacher, Betty Krzyszton, found out about the Robohand online, arranged for the materials and got the team and the rehabilitation hospital on board.

West Catholic Principal Cynthia Kneibel said a Canadian family has contacted the school about providing a Robohand for their youngster. She said the team will have more discussions with the family at the conclusion of the hectic robotic competition season.

"I am glad to hear other kids could be getting the same opportunity as Harmony," Petermen said.

Kneibel said the robotic team's work with Harmony's hand is a prime example of why the school is so supportive of the program.

"We are really committed because Michigan is a manufacturing state, and we desperately need engineers," said Kneibel, who said their high school team mentors a middle school robotics team made up of students from 15 traditional, charter and Catholic schools. "Sparking an interest in engineering because we think it is good for West Michigan."

Richard Van As, a carpenter from South Africa, and Ivan Owen, a mechanical special effects artist from Washington, teamed up to design and build the Robohand and made the design available online for others.

Armed with the pieces and instructions, the team finished it in about six weeks. It can be re-sized as Harmony gets older.

Peterman said painting her nails - all of 10 of them - is still one of Harmony's favorite things. She said she will be disappointed to be without it.

But Zakfeld said they should have Harmony's hand back before the end of the month.

Monica Scott is the Grand Rapids K-12 education writer. Email her at mscott2@mlive.com and follow her on Twitter @MScottGR or Facebook