One Step Closer: My Hero FLEX Fitting at Open Bionics

Last Wednesday, my mom and I headed to Orlando for my Hero FLEX fitting at Open Bionics. I’ve been looking forward to adding an activity arm to my prosthetic setup, and this appointment brought that a little closer.

There’s a lot of waiting involved in getting a prosthesis. You explore your options, ask questions, work through insurance, and wait for the next step. Eventually, you get to an appointment where the conversation becomes measurements, a scan, and something you can actually try on.

That was September 16 for me.

I met with Emily Shannon, who went back over the Hero FLEX’s capabilities and spent time taking measurements and scanning my residual limb. The scanning involved a large camera, with the information used to create a 3D-printed test socket for the fitting.

We had a few hours before we needed to return, so my mom and I made a day of it. There was Thai food, shopping, and a visit to IKEA. Apparently, waiting for part of an arm to be printed is also an opportunity to browse things you probably (read: definitely) don’t need.

When we returned, Emily fitted the test socket. It fit nicely, and overall, the appointment went great. I got to spend more time with the Hero FLEX and think about how it might fit into my life beyond the clinic.

That’s the part I’m most interested in.

My PSYONIC Ability Hand already has a place in my everyday life. The Hero FLEX will give me another option for activities where I want a different kind of tool. Water, exercise, and getting outside are a big part of why I’ve pursued it.

During the visit, I chose two attachments: the Gripster and the Cobra. Choosing the tools made the possibilities feel more concrete, especially with activities like cycling and kayaking in mind. It’s one thing to think generally about being more active. It’s another to start choosing equipment around something you’d actually like to do.

I’m looking forward to getting them home and finding out how they fit into my life.

Of course, a fitting is still an early step. I haven’t brought the finished arm home yet, and I haven’t put it through those activities. I’ll have more to say about how it works for me once I’ve had time to use it.

The day also came with a familiar reminder about wearing a prosthesis. By the time we’d spent hours out and about, my current arm was feeling heavy. I was tired, too. A full day of appointments and shopping caught up with me.

That belongs in the story just as much as the excitement does. Getting a new prosthesis involves the practical details of wearing it, learning it, and finding out where it helps. Those details continue well after the appointment.

At the fitting, the estimate was roughly three to four weeks before I could return to pick up the finished Hero FLEX and try it on. So there’s another stretch of waiting ahead, but now I’ve been through the scan and the test fitting. I have a better sense of what I’m waiting for.

I left excited to take the next step. When I go back, I’ll be bringing home another tool, along with a few ideas about where I’d like to take it.