I Want to Be a Prosthetist When I Grow Up

When I speak to elementary classes about my arm, I encourage students to become prosthetists someday. It’s not a profession most kids or parents think about. Yet, it offers intriguing challenges, freedom to be creative, and many opportunities to help others in unique ways. And prosthetists never get bored. They get to use science, math, electronics, technology, engineering, and medical skills . . . all in a day’s work!

March 15, 2024– Nathan and Meredith are getting a master’s degree in prosthetics from Alabama State University. With me as their patient model, they began the long process of making a prosthetic arm as their final assignment.

April 19, 2024– I returned a month later for Meredith and Nathan to continue their work. Just look at all those straps, cables, and parts on the prototype! They will graduate May 3. One is headed to Tampa and the other to Cleveland for their residencies.

Good luck and big blessings to you both, Meredith and Nathan!

Chatting about Hard Things and Happy Things

If you’d like to hear me tell some stories from One Smile, One Arm, take a listen. Susan Hale of Homeschooling Super Moms adds great insight for parents when guiding their children to approach others with physical and learning challenges.

Check out the workshop host, Homeschooling Super Moms, on Facebook HERE.

Add Modeling to My Resume

I’ve never had a modeling job before . . . until 2021. Prosthetics students at Alabama State University needed to practice their knowledge and skills before graduation. So I became a “patient model,” and they made arms for me.

Evaluations and castings have been a part of my life since I was one year old. But never six in one day! This was #6, and I was pretty tired.

We were all speckled with plaster and pleased with our day’s accomplishments. I found plaster on my pants, shoes, shirt, mask, and forehead. I even gained some white “highlights” in my hair.

I returned a month later for the fitting process. Each student had used the cast to make a socket for my upper arm. They were ready to add harnessing, elbow, forearm, and hand.

These are my new best friends. I know they will help many people across the country in the years to come.