A water-resistant bionic arm for HVAC work can make all difference. For nearly three decades, Mike has worked in some of the toughest environments in Texas, climbing ladders, crawling through cramped attics, repairing AC units in extreme heat, and managing heavy tools with one hand
He lost his left hand in 1999 after a flare gun malfunctioned and spent years trying to find a prosthetic arm that could keep up with his work. His early experience with prosthetics was discouraging. The first clinician he ever saw suggested cutting more of his arm off to make the fitting easier. He was handed a wooden body-powered device. “I’m like, wood, really? Is this the 1700s?” he joked. Later, his body-powered arm was so uncomfortable he only used it when riding his motorcycle.
His first myoelectric prosthesis was also problematic because it was heavy, unreliable, and easily disabled by heat and sweat. “You put your arm in different positions and it gets no contact,” he said. “When you are in a hot attic trying to wire something up, it just stops.”
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“This thing is great. I can wash dishes with it or whatever. If I am out and about and it starts raining, I can keep the hand on. Before, I had to grab a plastic bag and cover up the arm because if it got wet, it was done”
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Mike discovered Open Bionics on Facebook after seeing Hero Arm and Hero PRO videos featuring Tilly Lockey. When he connected with Travis Heins, certified prosthetist at our Austin, Texas, clinic the difference between his old device and the Hero PRO was immediate. “This one is a third of the weight,” he said. “Much, much lighter. It works much faster and stronger.” The Hero PRO’s multi grip bionic hand, with its individually articulating fingers, adjustable grip strength, and secure freeze mode, offered the stability he never had before. “You can hold a bag of groceries and it does not fall out of your hand,” he said.
One of the biggest improvements for Mike was Hero PRO’s water resistance. The hand, wrist, MyoPod sensors, and Hero Flex socket can get wet and continue working, which solves the heat and moisture issues that used to shut his prosthesis down. “This thing is great. I can wash dishes with it or whatever,” he said. “If I am out and about and it starts raining, I can keep the hand on. Before, I had to grab a plastic bag and cover up the arm because if it got wet, it was done.” The Hero Flex socket also addressed the swelling and discomfort he experienced every day. “This one is adjustable. I really like that feature. The other one made my arm swell up because it could not breathe.”.
Mike’s Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm designed for precision tasks and daily use.
Reliable control is essential when working in attics that routinely exceed 120 degrees, but fortunately our wireless and waterproof MyoPod sensors can read muscle signals even through sweat. “I still work every day, so I am hoping I can take this up in the attic with me,” he said. “The other one would break all the time. This one, if it breaks, they can print me a new piece and I am good to go.”
He also started using the Sidekick app to personalize grip settings and track usage. “The app is a lot better,” he said. “I am not very tech savvy, but it looks pretty easy.”
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“Just try Open Bionics. It is so much lighter. It is more versatile. It does more things”
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For Mike, the change is simple. After 26 years of adapting and compensating, he now has a prosthetic arm built for the way he actually lives and works. The Hero PRO is light, fast, water resistant, dependable, and easy to repair. It keeps up with him in the attic, on his motorcycle, and at home. When asked what he would tell other amputees, Mike said, “Just try Open Bionics. It is so much lighter. It is more versatile. It does more things.”
Whether you’re exploring a prosthesis for the first time or considering an upgrade, a free consultation with a certified prosthetist can help you understand your options. Schedule your consultation to see what’s possible.
What began as a routine clinic visit turned into a once-in-a-lifetime surprise for 12-year-old Kai Pollnitz, a Texas middle schooler born without his right hand.
Kai lives near Austin and spends his time playing basketball, practicing karate, gaming, and watching his favorite creators on YouTube–especially MrBeast. For years, he dreamed of having a bionic arm to help with everyday tasks many of his peers take for granted, from tying his karate belt and cutting his own food to riding a bike and feeling more confident at school.
“I really like basketball because I can play it,” Kai said. “I can get past most people and shoot.”
As Kai entered middle school, teasing and bullying became a painful reality. “People usually try to tell me what I can’t do,” he said. “But I’m actually really good at sports and video games.”
While researching prosthetic options, Kai’s parents discovered Open Bionics, known for building advanced multi-grip bionic arms with customizable covers inspired by brands like Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Call of Duty. However, Kai’s health insurance would not cover the cost of a myoelectric prosthetic.
“We tried crowdfunding and did everything we could as a family,” said Kai’s adopted mother, Charlotte Pollnitz. “It was humbling to make a video asking for help, but we just wanted Kai to have a fair chance at life. Every donation brought him hope.”
Even as fundraising progressed slowly, Charlotte brought Kai to our clinic in Austin for an evaluation.
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“Even before we could afford it, Open Bionics treated us like we mattered. Anytime I had questions, someone answered with real advice. We knew we were in capable hands.”
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“Even before we could afford it, Open Bionics treated us like we mattered,” Charlotte said. “Anytime I had questions, someone answered with real advice. We knew we were in capable hands.”
During the appointment, Kai tried a bionic arm for the first time.
“We both cried,” Charlotte said. “He has never been able to use that hand, and suddenly he could. Watching him pick something up and drink from a cup with his right hand felt unbelievable.”
Kai described the experience as “fantastic,” but knowing his family’s situation, he reassured his mother: “It would be so great to have a right hand, but I’m fine with waiting.”
What Kai didn’t know was that a surprise was already in motion. When Jimmy Donaldson—known globally as MrBeast—learned about Kai’s story, he decided to step in.
Just a few days before Christmas, Kai returned for what he believed would be a routine follow-up appointment. Instead, MrBeast walked into the room carrying a custom-built Hero PRO bionic arm, designed just for Kai. The arm featured hand-painted MrBeast-themed covers, complete with the iconic blue-and-pink panther and Kai’s name.
“He was completely in awe,” Charlotte said. “He kept whispering, ‘Mama, is this real? Is that really MrBeast?’”
Underneath Kai’s custom MrBeast covers is his Hero PRO, a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm.
“This is the most futuristic bionic arm on the planet,” said MrBeast. “There are sensors in the arm that pick up on your nerves, so you can use the hand without having to pull on anything.”
“At first I couldn’t speak,” Kai later admitted. “I never thought I’d meet him in real life.”
Behind the scenes, our ambassador Tilly Lockey—a bilateral bionic arm user herself—was also present for the reveal.
“Being part of this project with MrBeast feels full circle for me,” Lockey said. “I was once the kid being surprised with a bionic arm, and now I get to be there for Kai. I know exactly how life-changing that moment can be.”
Hero PRO is one of the most advanced multi-grip bionic arms available today, developed with input from more than 1,000 users over four years of research and development. The fully wireless, water-resistant arm can lift up to 55 pounds, is touchscreen-compatible, and features a fully articulating wrist with a quick-release system for activity attachments.
With his Hero PRO, Kai has already begun tackling two-handed tasks for the first time—on the basketball court and at home.
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“This is the most futuristic bionic arm on the planet.” – MrBeast.
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“We never imagined something like this would happen for him,” Charlotte said. “It’s once in a lifetime, not just because he met his idol, but because he now has a bionic arm that will change his life.”
When asked what he hopes others take away from his story, Kai said, “Don’t let people put you down. Nothing’s going to stop you. You just learn an alternative.”
The reveal was filmed by the MrBeast production team and is now available to watch on the MrBeast YouTube channel.
We work with children and families every day who are navigating questions about insurance and funding. Schedule a free virtual consultation with our certified prosthetists to learn more about bionic arm options for you or your child, and explore what’s possible.
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.”
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“People are always curious, and I don’t mind talking about it. It just makes everything feel easier. I don’t have to plan around it as much.”
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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.
Hero PRO is a lightweight, durable, and water-resistant bionic arm.
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.
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