
Eloise Bayliss, a 12-year-old from Cape Coral, embraced a new empowerment chapter with a custom-designed, Moana-themed bionic arm cover. The cover, which adorns her already life-altering bionic arm, known as the Hero Arm, was unveiled in Orlando and marks a collaboration between Open Bionics and Disney, as reported by WESH.
Born with limb difference, Eloise had been supported by her bionic arm for approximately three months before receiving the Disney-themed addition. The Hero Arm operates with intricately designed sensors that respond to muscle movements, enabling various hand gestures and grips. "It's helped me play some more songs on the piano. I love playing the piano. It just helps me through my life. I really appreciate it, basically," Eloise said, per WESH's statement reflecting her journey.
As reported by FOX 35 Orlando, the collaboration with Disney has taken the functional prosthetic and infused it with the notion of Eloise's favorite Disney character. This blending of form and function illustrates a growing trend toward personalized prosthetics that empower and inspire children like Eloise.
Eloise's mother, Elizabeth, did not overlook the financial aspect of such a life-changing technology. "I'm thankful to have a wonderful insurance plan through my employer. I struck gold with that. Some of them don't cover that, and this is a $30,000 arm,” Elizabeth explained, according to WESH. The family further celebrated the day with an advance screening of "Moana 2," aligning with the film's release, as a gesture of gratitude from those involved in the hero's journey of Eloise.