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9-Year-Old Denied Bionic Arm by Insurance — Raises $30K, Then Gives It ALL Away to Help Another Kid!
In 2024, 9-year-old Remi Bateman from Utah was denied health insurance coverage for her ~$24,000 Hero Arm bionic prosthetic, a advanced 3D-printed device from Open Bionics that offers multi-grip functionality and greater independence for daily tasks.Her family launched a GoFundMe campaign, which quickly raised more than $30,000 thanks to generous donors. Shortly after, Andy Schoonover, CEO of CrowdHealth (a subscriber-based platform for medical expenses), stepped in and offered to cover the full cost of Remi’s Hero Arm.With her own prosthetic now fully funded, Remi and her family decided to redirect the GoFundMe donations to support another child in a similar situation: 8- or 9-year-old Tyraun “Taj” Johnson from Maryland, who was also born without part of his left arm and had his insurance deny coverage for a Hero Arm. His family had been fundraising through efforts like lemonade stands.This kind chain of generosity ensured both children received their life-changing Hero Arms. The story drew attention to the frequent challenges families face when insurers classify such high-tech prosthetics as “not medically necessary” or “cosmetic,” even though many argue they significantly improve quality of life, independence, and long-term health outcomes for children.
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