Kelly Sansom/Gallery Photography (Remi Bateman); Shutterstock.com (doodles)

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A Helping Hand

Getting a special robotic arm made Remi Bateman want to help other kids get one too.

September 8, 2025
By Ellen Song

As You Read: How has getting a new robotic arm helped Remi?

Get to Know Remi Bateman
Watch a video to meet Remi and see her robotic arm in action.

Remi Bateman loves riding her bike. But until recently, she could grab only one of the handlebars.

Remi’s left arm stops just below the elbow. The 10-year-old from Bountiful, Utah, wears a prosthetic (prahs-THEH-tik) arm. Her old one was stiff. She couldn’t control the fingers. As a result, Remi needed help to do many tasks. She couldn’t tie her shoes or cut up her food.

But Remi recently got a new robotic arm. It’s called the Hero Arm. It allows her to do things that were once impossible.

“I don’t have to ask for so much help anymore,” says Remi.

Getting a Hero Arm made Remi want to help other kids like her.

Remi Bateman loves to ride her bike. But in the past, she could hold only one of the handles.

Remi’s left arm stops below her elbow. The 10-year-old from Utah wears a prosthetic (prahs-THEH-tik) arm. Her old one was stiff. The fingers didn’t move. So Remi needed help with many tasks. She couldn’t tie her shoes. She couldn’t cut up her food.

But Remi recently got a new robotic arm. It’s called the Hero Arm. Now she can do things she couldn’t do before.

“I don’t have to ask for so much help anymore,” says Remi.

Getting a Hero Arm made Remi want to help other kids like her.

What Remi Wants YOU to Know

Kelly Sansom/Gallery Photography

1. NO ONE LIKES TO BE LEFT OUT. Kids with limb differences may have a harder time doing certain activities. But we have feelings too. Ask us to join you at recess.

2. THERE'S MORE TO ME THAN MY DISABILITY. It's OK to ask me about my arm. But don't make it all about that. I also play basketball and like to read. Get to know me!

3. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL. The world would be a boring place if everyone were the same. Celebrate the things that make you different.

1. NO ONE LIKES TO BE LEFT OUT. Kids with limb differences may have a harder time doing certain activities. But we have feelings too. Ask us to join you at recess.

2. THERE'S MORE TO ME THAN MY DISABILITY. It's OK to ask me about my arm. But don't make it all about that. I also play basketball and like to read. Get to know me!

3. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL. The world would be a boring place if everyone were the same. Celebrate the things that make you different.

An Expensive Solution

Remi was born with what’s called a limb difference. People with limb differences are missing all or part of an arm or a leg.

Remi wished she could have a better prosthetic arm. So last fall, she and her family visited Open Bionics. That’s the company that makes the Hero Arm. 

The arm is made with a 3-D printer (see “How 3-D Printing Works”). It has special technology that allows Remi to control the fingers. That means she can hold even tiny objects. After trying out the Hero Arm, Remi didn’t want to take it off.

But there was a big problem. The Hero Arm would cost Remi’s family about $24,000. Her parents couldn’t afford to pay that much. Remi was crushed.

“I thought, ‘Everyone around me has two hands. Why can’t I have another one?’” she says. 

Remi was born with a limb difference. People with a limb difference are missing all or part of an arm or a leg.

Remi wanted a better prosthetic arm. So last fall, she visited Open Bionics. The company makes the Hero Arm. 

The Hero Arm is made with a 3-D printer (see “How 3-D Printing Works”). The arm has special features. It allows Remi to control the fingers. She can hold even tiny things. Remi loved trying out the Hero Arm. She didn’t want to take it off.

But there was a problem. The Hero Arm would cost about $24,000. Her parents couldn’t afford to pay that much. Remi was crushed.

“I thought, ‘Everyone around me has two hands. Why can’t I have another one?’” she says.

Kelly Sansom/Gallery Photography 

Remi puts on her Hero Arm. Her old prosthetic arm is on the right.

Pause and Think

How did Remi feel when she found out she couldn't get a Hero Arm?

How did Remi feel when she found out she couldn't get a Hero Arm?

Spreading Kindness

In December 2024, Remi’s family shared their story on a fundraising website. They hoped to collect enough money to buy Remi a Hero Arm. 

Donations started to pour in. Within a few days, Remi’s family had raised more than $24,000. Soon more good news followed. A stranger offered to cover the full cost of Remi’s Hero Arm!

What would the Batemans do with all the money they had raised? For Remi, the decision was easy. She wanted to buy Hero Arms for other kids with limb differences. She knew their families probably couldn’t afford them either.

“I know how it feels to have one arm,” Remi says. “These kids might have been getting picked on at school or feeling left out.”

In December 2024, Remi’s family shared their story online. They hoped to raise money to buy a Hero Arm.

Donations came in. Within days, Remi’s family had raised more than $24,000. Soon there was more good news. A stranger made an offer. He would cover the full cost of Remi’s Hero Arm!

What would the Batemans do with the money they had raised? Remi had an idea. She wanted to help buy Hero Arms for other kids who needed them. Maybe their families couldn’t afford them either.

“I know how it feels to have one arm,” Remi says. “These kids might have been getting picked on at school or feeling left out.”

Kelly Sansom/Gallery Photography 

Remi's Hero Arm has made it easier for her to put on her socks.

Believe in Yourself

Remi’s family updated their fundraising page. They explained their plan to use the money to help other kids. Before long, even more donations came in.

The Batemans have raised a total of more than $55,000. They helped pay for Hero Arms for three other kids. 

Remi hopes to help even more kids with limb differences. In the meantime, she wants everyone to celebrate what makes them unique.

“Continue being yourself!” Remi says.

Remi’s family updated their page online. They explained their plan. They would use the money to help other kids. Soon even more donations came in.

The Batemans have raised more than $55,000. They helped pay for Hero Arms for three other kids.

Remi hopes to help more kids with limb differences. In the meantime, she wants kids to celebrate what makes them unique.

“Continue being yourself!” Remi says.

Kelly Sansom/Gallery Photography 

Riding her bike is easier with Remi's new Hero Arm.

How 3-D Printing Works

From robotic arms to bike helmets, 3-D printers can create almost anything. Here’s one way they work.

From robotic arms to bike helmets, 3-D printers can create almost anything. Here’s one way they work.

Shutterstock.com

Step 1: Say you want to print a bike helmet. First, design the helmet on a computer. Then send the design to a 3-D printer.

Step 2: This part is called the printhead. It heats up and melts the printing material. In this case, the printing material is hard plastic.

Step 3: The nozzle squeezes out a thin layer of melted plastic. The plastic quickly cools and hardens. 

Step 4: The printer continues to build the object layer by layer. It prints from the bottom to the top.

Step 1: Say you want to print a bike helmet. First, design the helmet on a computer. Then send the design to a 3-D printer.

Step 2: This part is called the printhead. It heats up and melts the printing material. In this case, the printing material is hard plastic.

Step 3: The nozzle squeezes out a thin layer of melted plastic. The plastic quickly cools and hardens. 

Step 4: The printer continues to build the object layer by layer. It prints from the bottom to the top.

1. How is Remi Bateman's new Hero Arm different from her old prosthetic arm?

2. What do you think Remi means when she says "there's no such thing as normal"?

3. What are the main ideas of the section "Spreading Kindness"?

1. How is Remi Bateman's new Hero Arm different from her old prosthetic arm?

2. What do you think Remi means when she says "there's no such thing as normal"?

3. What are the main ideas of the section "Spreading Kindness"?

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