Life is known for its amazing ability to adapt. The Earth is filled with evidence of this – from the Baobab tree in Africa with its fire-resistant bark to humans and our mostly useless appendix. Over time life has adapted to its environment and survived through tough Ice Ages and brutal global extinction events. Humans, as a product of survival and environment, have found brilliant ways to adapt: like fire to keep warm or freezers to keep food unspoiled. Medical advancements have also helped us to adapt to physical harm. Marcus Sergius, a Roman general, had the first documented use of a prosthetic in The Seventh Book of the History of Nature, written by C. Plinivs. “He made himself a Right Hand of Iron, and he fought with it fastened to his Arm.” Today, there is incredible research happening in hopes of developing a prosthetic that can not only help return freedom to its wearer but allow him or her to feel textures and warmth again. …show more content…
Some have prosthesis, but others must make do without an arm or a leg. All of them have had to learn to adapt to their situation and find ways to do the daily tasks they used to do. This does not come easily. I recall a conversation with my Aunt Debbie, who lost a leg in a boating accident. As you might expect, it was quite a shock, and she was forced to completely relearn how to live her life twice – once while in a wheel chair, and second after she was fitted for a prosthetic. She told me she is amazed at how advanced the prosthetic was, but at first, she couldn’t do what she loved, playing competitive tennis. Through hard work, practice and time, she was able to adapt to her new appendage, and relearn to balance, sidestep and move at the explosive speed tennis