Mental Resilience: How a Prosthesis Changed My Life
Sabine Vranckx from Belgium was born with congenital difference of her left hand and as a result, experienced bullying in her younger years. Receiving her i-Digits and building her own community online were the changes she needed to build mental resilience and feel whole again.
Being born without a left hand is a real challenge, especially mentally. For me, that challenge started when I realised that I was ‘different’. And being ‘different’ did not come with a positive feeling. On the contrary. I was looked at strangely and laughed at, and after a while, that really broke me. Because of that, I started to hide my hand.
When I received my i-Digits, the tide turned for me. For the first time in my life, I felt perfect and whole, and I wanted to show the world what I could do.
I’d say the biggest mental hurdle after getting my bionic prosthesis was the reaction of other people. After all, it does stand out. But the negative reactions to my hand all turned to positive reactions when people saw my i-Digits. And that was the mental boost I needed to finally be myself.
When I first decided to go for a bionic hand, I created a Facebook page on the advice of my youngest daughter, and that was the best decision ever. I put all the steps to receiving my i-Digits online, and the reactions I received on my Facebook page increased my resilience tenfold. I still regularly post videos about things I do every day, and the reactions continue to do me the world of good.
I feel stronger than ever and I am proud of my bionic hand. When I order a steak in a restaurant, worried waiters have asked me if they should cut my food up for me, and I proudly say, that’s not necessary at all. In the past, when I had a purely aesthetic prosthesis, I would cry when I was asked that question. It felt like a sign that the aesthetic prosthesis didn’t hide that I didn’t have a hand. And that always made me sad because it reminded me of the bullying I experienced.
Fortunately, that time is over, everyone can see my hand, and I’m proud of it. It’s simply a part of me now.
Anyone who wants to strengthen themselves mentally must find a way to first accept themselves. Focus on what you can still do and not on what you can’t. If you can take that step, you’ll build your mental strength, regardless of the reactions of the outside world. It’s not always easy, but it’s how you move on and become your true self.