January 26, 2024

50 Lives

Today wraps up the first week of working with our organization, Rise Bionics. The team has been working diligently trying to finish an order of 50 and get it shipped out by next week. So much so, that after introductions to the team and a quick tour of the workshop, Arun’s first question to us was “Do you guys know how to use a jigsaw?”

Unfortunately I don’t, so with my limited skill level of power tools and heavy machinery, we (Casera and I) were in charge of making the velcro straps, foam inserts, and neoprene coverings for the orthopedics.

We spent Monday cutting out velcro straps and medical grade foam and hammering holes into them. It wasn’t until the next day when we were tasked with cutting out the shape of the mold from the foam that it really hit me.

I marked out the shape of the orthopedic for a child whose foot fit in the palm of my hand. I looked at the mountain of foam molds in front of me. Each one represented a person. Fifty people whose lives are about to change next week. This overwhelming mix of gratitude, disbelief, and other emotions I haven’t processed yet hit me.

It’s easy to see why Arun and the Rise Bionics team are very passionate about what they do and the level of enthusiasm they have at work. The team is constantly checking in with us to see if there’s anything we want to learn, and beyond learning the technical skills this team of masters possess, I can only hope that I can contribute to the work of Rise Bionics and learn how to bring even a fraction of this enthusiasm and impact into the future.

By Arielle

Caption: medical grade foam used as liners for the orthopedics