A five-year-old boy born with one hand has made history as the youngest person ever to be fitted with a bionic arm.
Jordan Marotta experienced an overwhelming sense of “pure joy” when he received his Iron Man-themed ‘Hero Arm’ prosthetic last week. Heartwarming footage captured the moment when, just hours after being fitted with the prosthetic, Jordan was able to zoom around on his scooter, gripping the handlebars with his new, lifelike bionic arm.
“It’s really fun and it’s cool. I like to play with the hand and make it open and close,” Jordan expressed with excitement.
His mother, Ashley Marotta, approached Open Bionics, the company that designs and manufactures these advanced prosthetics, after Jordan began questioning why his hand had not “grown back.”
Initially, the company informed Ashley that Jordan might be too young to receive one of their mechanical limbs. However, they decided to let Jordan try out an arm to see if he could effectively use it.
The trial was a success, leading the company to agree to fit him with the prosthetic at their offices in nearby New York City, two years earlier than the typical age for such fittings.
“As soon as we left with Jordan’s Hero Arm, he was running around with so much confidence, trying to hail New York taxis,” said the Long Island mom.
“You can’t even put a number on how amazing that is. It is worth its weight in gold,” she added.
Upon returning home, the first thing Jordan wanted to do was ride his scooter, finally able to hold on with two hands. This small but significant moment highlighted the newfound independence and normalcy that the bionic arm brought to his life.
As for Jordan, he has some advice for all of us in the sweet video below: “Don’t give up. Just don’t give up.”
Ashley discovered that Jordan was missing his left hand during a 20-week pregnancy scan in the hospital. The doctors couldn’t pinpoint a specific medical cause for his limb difference, which initially left her feeling upset and concerned about his future.
However, she found comfort in learning about other children who had thrived despite similar conditions.
“No child is ‘perfect’, but you hear the expression all the time, ‘ten fingers and ten toes’, and you don’t really know what that means until you have to,” she said.
“Luckily, I was able to do some research and reach out and find a lot of really good resources, and I think that helped prepare me for his arrival and what to expect. I had seen a lot of videos of other kids like him, and there was a sense of relief that the journey might not be easy, but he’ll be ok,” she added.
As Jordan grew older and more aware of his limb difference, he began asking poignant questions, like “Mummy, how come I don’t have two hands?” This prompted Ashley to reach out to UK-based Open Bionics in search of a solution that could enhance his quality of life.
She shared, “Because we’re in New York, and they have a satellite office, I was like ‘What’s the worst that can happen? Can we meet with the prosthetist and give it a try?’
“Jordan is on the bigger side for his age. So I really sold them on his muscles,” she explained.
Ashley also shared how lucky she was that her health insurance covered the cost of the arm, noting that Jordan had already started to adapt and use his new prosthetic in his everyday activities. The ‘Hero Arm’ is not just a functional tool but also a source of immense pride and confidence for Jordan, who loves the Iron Man theme and enjoys showing of his new bionic limb to friends and family.
“I sent a video of him, and they said, ‘I can’t believe how quickly he’s picking it up’.” See just how thrilled Jordan is when he starts using his new bionic arm in the video below.
The journey to getting the bionic arm has been transformative for both Jordan and Ashley. The emotional and psychological benefits are evident in Jordan’s newfound enthusiasm for activities he previously found challenging. The ability to ride his scooter with two hands is just the beginning of many more milestones he will likely achieve with the help of his bionic arm.
Open Bionics, the company behind the ‘Hero Arm,’ has been at the forefront of developing affordable and accessible bionic limbs. Their mission is to make prosthetics available to more children and adults worldwide, transforming lives with cutting-edge technology.
Jordan’s story is a testament to the impact these advancements can have, providing individuals with the tools they need to lead more independent and fulfilling lives.
Recommended For You
