14th February 2026
Jason, a 51-year-old Florida native, lost his hand in a die press accident at work in 2018. Because the injury occurred on the job, his recovery and prosthetic care fell under workers’ compensation.
“When I start feeling like it’s holding me back, I have to refocus my mind,” he said. “My old life ended when I got my amputation, and my new life began. I could either hide in a corner or move forward. The nub is always going to be there. So my one-handed life started, and I have to make it what it is.”
He recalled swimming from the Sarasota beach into open water, kicking hard through the waves toward a pillar jutting out of the surf. Earlier that day, he had watched kids climbing and swinging from a rope and thought, “I can do that.” When he reached the base, he grabbed a bent nail rung with his left hand and wrapped the nub of his right arm around the next rung, pulling himself up until he could swing one-handed out over the water.
Afterward, he sat on the warm sand and thought, “I’m 51. I probably shouldn’t be doing childish things.” But he refuses to let the amputation of his right hand define what he can or cannot do.
For years, prosthetics were heavy, restrictive tools Jason wore only for specific jobs.
“It was like carrying around a hammer,” he said of his older prosthetics. “I’d use it for a task, then take it off.”
Daily wear felt uncomfortable. Water exposure was always off limits. Although workers’ compensation covered his prosthetic care, Jason did not initially realize that advanced myoelectric technology, including a waterproof bionic arm, could be considered when supported by medical documentation and functional need.
After researching options online, he learned about the Hero RGD and requested an evaluation.
He connected with Emily Shannon, CPO, at our Orlando, Florida clinic. Following clinical assessment under his workers’ compensation case, he was fitted with a Hero RGD, an IPX8-rated waterproof bionic arm designed for durability, speed, and all-day wear.
Right away he noticed the difference.
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“It feels pounds lighter. We weighed it and it’s about a pound and a half lighter, but it feels like pounds. It fits like a glove, not a hammer.” – Jason
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“It feels pounds lighter,” he said, about his previous bionic arm. “We weighed it and it’s about a pound and a half lighter, but it feels like pounds. It fits like a glove, not a hammer.”
Living in Florida, his first instinct after the fitting was simple.
“I’m going swimming,” he said. “I’ll probably do some gardening. I’ll be mowing the yard. I’ll try riding my bike. I’ll try anything for progress.”
Progress with his Hero RGD is tangible. It is using his right hand to sign his name, peel a banana, steer a lawn mower without bruising his forearm, or gripping bike handlebars on a ride with his son. Getting caught in the unpredictable Florida rain with his bionic arm is no longer a concern. He can put it on in the morning and keep it on throughout the day because of the lightweight and breathable 3D printed socket design.
“The response time and finger roll are really quick compared to what I used before,” he said. “With the old hand, it was heavy and so bulky I didn’t want to wear it. With this one, I’m looking forward to going through my day already having a hand that can do the task.”
The Hero RGD connects wirelessly to MyoPod sensors for proportional control. It closes in 0.4 seconds, can lift up to 77 pounds, and carries an IPX8 waterproof rating designed for wet environments. Fit matters as much as hardware.
Jason’s shorter, below-elbow socket allows him to manually rotate the prosthesis as he turns his forearm.
“The thing I like most is that I can use this daily and still be ready for tasks when they come up,” he said. “I’m excited.”
The socket design was developed by Emily Shannon, CPO, at the Orlando clinic.
“Jason has had several socket designs before, but has always felt restricted by sockets that extend above the elbow,” Emily explained. “Either they were uncomfortable around his bony anatomy or limited elbow motion. We wanted to retain full range of motion at the elbow and allow some forearm rotation.”
Emily created multiple 3D printed test sockets to validate her approach and fine-tuned an adjustable socket system with compressible panels positioned above the wrist for secure suspension.
“Ultimately we determined there would be a tradeoff between suspension and range of motion,” she said. “That decision had to align with his goals and priorities.”
For workers’ compensation patients, those functional goals are central to approval decisions.
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“The thing I like most is that I can use this daily and still be ready for tasks when they come up. I’m excited!” -Jason
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Jason’s case highlights an important point.
If limb loss occurs at work, workers’ compensation may cover advanced prosthetic technology when it is supported by clinical documentation and functional necessity. Coverage decisions vary by insurer and state, but modern waterproof bionic arms are not automatically limited to basic solutions.
A certified prosthetist can evaluate:
Jason’s experience shows that a workers’ compensation pathway can include durable, lightweight, waterproof technology that supports everyday life.
If your limb loss occurred at work and you are navigating workers’ compensation, you may have more options than you realize. Book a free consultation to explore whether a Hero RGD could be part of your recovery pathway.
We work with partner clinics to support the best possible outcome for patients. Connect with our team for training on our advanced bionic technology to know what’s available for your patients.
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