What a prosthetic arm means for teen Eric

The first thing you notice when 13-year-old Eric walks into a room is his energy. He loves the gym, football, four-wheelers, fishing and planning his next hunting trip. He was born without his left arm below-the-elbow, and for years, he has adapted. He carried laundry against his body, opened doors with an arm and a foot, and learned to work around tasks that needed two hands. At home, buttoning shirts, tying shoes and opening containers took more work than they should have.

“I had to think about how to carry stuff and open doors at the same time,” Eric said. “It is hard to do both.”

Prosthetic devices at the time didn’t seem to help. He tried a cosmetic arm that never fit well, and a body-powered device that was too heavy and offered little function. Eric eventually gave up on prosthetics.

“When I was younger, we tried finding arms that could help, but I stopped trying to use arms for a while because they weren’t that good,” he said.

His mom, Lynette, remembered his disappointment. “We had tried a couple of different options, like cosmetic arms, but they really didn’t have functionality,” she said.

By middle school, Eric needed more independence, and once again started searching for a prosthetic arm for teens that he could actually use at school, at home and outdoors with his family.

“My mom was like, ‘Eric, come look at this.’ And then I came downstairs and I was looking at your website and I saw these arms and I thought they were pretty cool,” Eric said.

The day he tried bionic tech for the first time

During his initial visit to our prosthetic clinic in Denver, Colorado, he tried a Hero PRO trial kit. Eric was nervous, and at first, the sensors wouldn’t pick up enough signal from his short residual limb. That was when his clinician, Elise Dreiling, tried a new approach.

“She said, ‘Okay, Eric, I want you to close your eyes and put both your arms out,’” Lynette said. “Then she said, ‘Pretend that you’re flexing your wrist up and down on both arms at the same time.’ As soon as he did that, the hand started to open and close. It was really exciting.”

Eric was equally elated. “I thought it wouldn’t work at first, but then I was surprised. I didn’t know I could do it. And then I just did it,” he said.

He also remembers how it felt to finally meet someone who could help. “Elise was really nice… I didn’t think that I was ever going to get an arm, but it happened,” Eric said.

Going through the insurance application process

Getting insurance to approve the bionic arm, however, was not as simple. Their first request was denied, despite meeting medical criteria. Elise submitted a detailed appeal outlining Eric’s daily challenges, his muscle control and the peer-reviewed research supporting multi-grip bionic prosthetic arms for teens. She emphasized that this was not just paperwork but a real kid wanting to do everyday things more independently.

The appeal was approved, and Eric finally received his Hero PRO.

“Open Bionics is nothing short of amazing,” Lynette said. “My 13-year-old son finally has a functional prosthetic arm! Not only does Open Bionics help with insurance obstacles, they are committed to making people’s lives better. I am so thankful for everything they have done for Eric.”

The changes for Eric were immediate. On a recent grocery trip, he pushed the cart with both hands for the first time. When they got home, he helped carry the groceries inside.

“He walked inside with a grocery bag in each hand, and his brothers looked up from the couch and they’re like, ‘That is the weirdest thing to see him coming in carrying bags in both hands,’” Lynette said.

The Hero PRO’s multi-grip patterns, lighter weight and harness-free design supports his goals. At school, it helps him stabilize papers and manage his backpack. At home, the adjustable wrist and grip modes give him new stability and control, making chores and meal prep easier. Outdoors, the water resistance and durability gives him peace of mind. And using both sides of his body helps protect his right arm from long-term overuse.

Eric’s story shows that you don’t have to be an early adopter of bionic tech, having the right tool paired with the right clinical support can make a big difference in someone’s life.

If you’re exploring prosthetic options or need help understanding insurance coverage, book a free consultation with our team, we love to chat!