🌞 Life-Changing Bionic Arm

Daily Upsider - Sunday, June 9th, 2024

Sunday, June 9th, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

Wow, check out this band, they are one of a kind!

Today’s Upside

Innovation

5 Year Old, First to Receive Bionic Arms

Jordan Marotta (left) with his new bionic arm on May 28 – SWNS

A five-year-old boy, born with one hand, has become the youngest person ever fitted with a bionic arm.

Jordan Marotta experienced "pure joy" when he received his Iron Man-themed 'Hero Arm' prosthetic last week. Hours after getting the arm, footage showed him riding his scooter, gripping the handlebars with the prosthetic.

“It’s really fun and it’s cool,” said Jordan. “I like to play with the hand and make it open and close.”

His mother, Ashley Marotta, contacted Open Bionics, the company that makes the prosthetics, when Jordan started asking why his hand hadn't 'grown back'. Despite being told he was likely too young for a mechanical limb, they let Jordan try one. Following a successful trial, they agreed to fit him with the arm at their New York City office, two years earlier than usual.

“As soon as we left with Jordan’s Hero Arm, he was running around with so much confidence, trying to hail New York taxis,” said Ashley.

"You can’t even put a number on how amazing that is. It is worth its weight in gold."

The first thing Jordan wanted to do when he got home was ride his scooter, now able to hold on with both hands. His advice in a video: “Don’t give up. Just don’t give up.”

Ashley was fortunate that her health insurance covered the cost of the arm. Jordan quickly adapted to using it in his daily life.

Watch the first moments below…

Sports

Grandmother’s 29-Mile Swim

credit – John Chapman / MSF

A 55 year-old grandmother, who describes herself as overweight, became the first woman to swim from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to the Farallon Islands, a distance of nearly 30 miles.

Amy Appelhans Gubser, a former collegiate swimmer, hadn't attempted such a feat in 24 years. She faced cold waters, sharks, and jellyfish—all without a wetsuit.

Gubser started her swim at 3:27 a.m., plunging into the waters near her support vessel, and swam for 17 hours, reaching the Farallons after nightfall. An agent from the Marathon Swimmers Federation observed her swim, which is pending verification. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to complete this swim and the first person to do it from the bridge to the islands.

Despite the shark-infested waters, Gubser entered a "meditative state," interrupted only by snack breaks every thirty minutes.

She chose not to wear a wetsuit to comply with MSF rules, despite the warmth and buoyancy it would have provided. “When you wear a wetsuit, your skin rubs against the material, and I didn't want my skin to bleed near a shark island,” she said.

Gubser was stung twice by jellyfish during the swim.

She hopes her achievement inspires others and shows that athletic excellence is possible regardless of age and body weight.

Culture

Enthusiasts Recreate Swiss Mountain Music

The Share LoT – credit, Upstream Podcast

The UK's largest known gathering of alpine horn enthusiasts took place in Berkshire. Eleven members of the UK Alphorn Network (UKAN) assembled with their instruments at Downe House School, near Thatcham, on June 2.

Organiser Frances Jones, who has been playing and teaching the alphorn for over 20 years, described the sound of the ensemble as "extraordinary." Traditionally used for herding animals in the Swiss mountains, the alphorn produces a distinctive, memorable sound.

Jones highlighted the event as a rare opportunity for UK players to meet and perform together. "It's the voice of the mountains, a magical and unique sound," she said. Alphorns, also known as alpine horns, can be up to four meters (13 feet) long and are played while propped on the ground. Though traditionally made of wood, they can also be constructed from carbon fibre.

“Sunday is a time when you sit back and reflect on all the blessings that you have received. Smile at all the good things that you are enjoying.” — Sera Train

Mind Stretchers

⁉️ 

What can you keep after giving to someone?

Answers to yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:
Are you dead? ⚰️ 

Gerry Moore got the correct answer first!

The first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected] or reply to the email.

From the Community

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