Ashley Marotta found out her son, Jordan, would be born without his left hand during her 20-week ultrasound. After learning about her baby's limb difference, she and her husband initially went through a phase of grief. Jordan, now 5, however, has been able to experience a pretty typical childhood.
The little boy has enjoyed playing baseball, rock climbing, and even participating in karate. Recently, though, Jordan started to "understand and know he's different," Ashley told the New York Post. “There were plenty of times where he would sit there and ask me, ‘Mommy, how come my hand is not growing?'” she told the newspaper.
Today, Jordan is the proud new recipient of a bionic arm — making history in the process.
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Jordan Marotta became the youngest person fitted with a 'hero arm' from Open Bionics.
Jordan recently became the youngest proud owner of the device, Talker reported. He took a trip with his mom to get fitted with his bionic arm from Open Bionics. It's called a "Hero Arm," and the UK company's website describes it as an "advanced, lightweight, 3D printed bionic arm, with multi-grip functionality and empowering aesthetics."
The video of Jordan unboxing and trying his arm for the first time is the sweetest.
If you need a smile today, just watch this video the Post shared via YouTube, of Jordan opening and trying on his arm for the first time. The smile on his face is simply infectious.
One YouTube user commented, "And just like that, he became the coolest guy in his elementary school."
Another commenter declared, "Miracle of modern technology!! WONDERFUL!!! Blessings to this sweet young boy!!"
His bionic arm detects muscle contractions.
Jordan's high-tech artificial limb was created to custom-fit where his left arm ends. To use it, electrodes detect muscle contractions and make corresponding hand and arm motions. It's powered by a rechargeable battery.
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Jordan caught on to it pretty quickly.
Although Open Bionics' description notes that the arm is "suitable for adults and children as young as 8," Jordan picked up how to use it quickly.
“It takes a little bit of work,” Daniel Green, a certified prosthetist and orthotist at Open Bionics, told the Post. “It’s maybe something the average five-year-old probably wouldn’t be able to do — at least not as quickly as Jordan, anyway.”
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His mom, Ashley, said the artificial arm has made him 'so confident.'
Having the bionic arm has made a world of difference to Jordan. “This really makes him feel good. He’s so confident. He was glowing,” Ashley told the Post.
She added, “He was just walking down the streets of Manhattan, throwing his new hand up in the air screaming ‘Taxi!'"
