16th December 2025
Most mornings on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, 48-year-old Steven Bengochea is juggling the roles of teacher, cook, gardener, and dad. As a stay-at-home single father who homeschools his nine-year-old daughter, there are many tasks that are difficult to do one-handed, like riding bikes, preparing meals, or planting vegetables. Steven was born without his left hand, and has undergone more than sixty surgeries on both arms and his left leg. When pain flares in his leg and he needs to use a cane, even simple tasks like opening a door or carrying a bag can be a challenge.
He has worn prosthetic arms since childhood, but his most recent device started to fail years ago. “My old arm is like seven years old now and it has already quit on me,” he said. When it stopped functioning, he started researching modern technology. “I saw a video of Open Bionics and a couple people that had the Hero Arms. I did some research just trying to look and see what I could find. The technology is out of this world now.”
The routines that fill his day are moments most people don’t think twice about: cutting food, opening jars, zipping jackets, tying shoes, loading laundry, carrying groceries, or helping his daughter with schoolwork. Without a functional left hand, he braces objects against his body or asks his daughter for help. Outside, he gardens, mows the lawn, and pushes a wheelbarrow while constantly working around his limb difference.
When he received his Hero PRO, the experience immediately felt different. “Everything’s going good,” he said during his delivery appointment. “I like how there’s an app for it. I saw it and thought this is going to be like my new video game, figuring out how it works, grabbing achievements and stuff.”
The hand’s versatility stood out right away. “My previous prosthetic arm is like ancient now, compared to this one,” Steven said. “This is going to be fun. There’s a lot more movements in this arm than the old one.” Out of the box, the Hero PRO offers around twenty grip patterns designed for everyday tasks, something he had never had access to before.
Steven is especially excited about the things the Hero PRO will let him return to. “It helps a lot, especially driving. With the old one, the wrist didn’t bend or anything like that.” He also wants to get back on a bike with his daughter. “I want to get her to start riding the bike again. I told her once she starts riding, then I’ll start riding. I want to start working out again. I used to do a lot of lifting.”
Past prosthetic experiences taught him how important controllable grip strength is. With one of his older devices, he had no idea how to adjust it. “I was able to bust a Coke can and stuff like that. It was way too much,” he said. “I was afraid to hold my daughter or grab her arm or anything like that with it.” The Hero PRO immediately felt different. “I like how it’s got the ‘gentle’ and ‘normal’ settings on it. Makes it a lot easier.”
By the end of his delivery appointment, he was already imagining how his routines would change. “This is going to be an adventure,” he said, cycling through the hand’s movements. With the Hero PRO, he can approach driving, biking, gardening, cooking, and working out with more confidence and less strain on his sound side. Most of all, it gives him a practical way to keep up with his daughter and stay involved in the activities they enjoy together.
For Steven, the Hero PRO represents a path back to balanced movement, healthier daily living, and a more confident role as a father.
If you’re searching for an arm prosthesis to help reach your goals, schedule a free consultation with your nearest certified prosthetist today.
English 
USA 
German