Meet Jackson: An Athlete and Student with a Bionic Fist Bump

Jackson is a 17-year-old high school athlete from California. He was born with a congenital right below-elbow limb difference and grew up learning how to adapt in a world designed for two hands. What stands out most when you meet him is not his limb difference, but how easily he connects with people. Jackson is funny, outgoing, and quick to make people laugh. He has a way of making people feel comfortable almost instantly.

“I’m cursed, ” Jackson joked, when asked about his limb difference. “People always want a fist bump.”

Over the years, he tried several prosthetic options, including body-powered devices with harness hooks, which he said felt restrictive and uncomfortable, and it did not give him the fine motor control he wanted for everyday tasks. “I was just like, ‘Why am I wearing this?’ I didn’t really have a reason to,” he said.

Jackson can do anything he sets his mind to. For a long time, that meant finding workarounds for everyday tasks most people don’t think twice about.

As he started thinking seriously about college and independent living, that limitation became harder to ignore. School can require two-handed tasks throughout the day, like carrying books through crowded hallways, handling lab equipment, or taking notes. At home, he used similar adaptations to cook, open containers, or fold laundry.

“I wanted to be able to hold my backpack or a book in my right hand so I can open doors or use my phone with my left,” Jackson said.

His path to Open Bionics began when a friend sent him a video. “It was a video of a guy showing off his Open Bionics arm,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is really cool.’ So I looked online and signed up to learn more.”

Jackson scheduled a free consultation with our certified clinician in California, where he was able to ask questions, and learn more about the fitting process. His bionic arm was approved by health insurance, and when his custom bionic arm arrived, he did exactly what most 17-year-olds would do. “We picked it up and I got to show off all the goods to my friends,” he said. “People are always curious, and I don’t mind talking about it. It just makes everything feel easier,” he added. “I don’t have to plan around it as much.”

Jackson does not define himself by his limb difference and is naturally competitive. “I do things like everyone else. I did track and cross country,” he said. “I was a para ambulatory runner at the California championships. I came in third place for my event,” he added casually, almost as an afterthought.

When he talks about life with his new bionic arm, he starts with the simplest wins. “I love grabbing stuff,” he said. “I’ll grab my water bottle, just anything. I can finally carry things with two arms. I’m definitely using it more than I thought I would.”

Jackson’s bionic arm is fully wireless, and he likes to show that feature off. “Because it has Bluetooth, you can make it crawl,” he said.

“He does that in class and he hasn’t gotten in trouble yet,” his mom, Linda, said.

He shared another moment from school that still makes him laugh. “I did a grip test in my bio class with the hand,” he said. “Everyone’s like, ‘You’re cheating.’ I’m like, ‘I’m the only one who’s getting a positive curve on this thing.’”

Jackson’s honesty and humor is exactly what made him such a natural presence at the Amputee Coalition National Conference in Las Vegas, the largest annual gathering of the limb loss and limb difference community. ACNC brings together individuals, families, clinicians, and innovators to share experiences and learn from one another.

“Having Jackson at the conference was an incredible experience,” said Greg Zschaschel, Jackson’s certified prosthetist from the Los Angeles, California clinic. “Watching him share his story, engaging with others, and answering questions was truly inspiring. He wasn’t just attending the conference, he was shaping it.”

Jackson talked with people about school, sports, and what life is like with a bionic arm. He answered questions honestly, shared what has changed for him, and laughed about what he is still figuring out. “I haven’t figured out how to twist a door knob yet,” he admitted. “That’s the next goal. I’m still figuring it out, but it’s already made a difference.”

If you were at ACNC, there’s a good chance you saw Jackson. If you’d like to learn more about the technology behind his signature fist bumps, schedule a free virtual consultation with our certified prosthetists to learn more about bionic arm options for you or your child.