My grandson, Jacob Fletcher

Among the wonders of the world . . .
are touching, feeling, seeing, hearing, tasting, laughing, loving and being loved . . .

We humans do a lot of things with our hands.

We hold hammers and saws to build things. We squeeze fruits and vegetables to select food at the grocery store. We choose tools and other items at the big box stores to use at home.

We soothe our dogs and cats with our fingers to share our mutual caring for one another. We join hands with that very special one we love to emphasize our commitment to each other.

People with missing limbs may need a little help to experience such wonders.

Jacob Fletcher, my grandson, you have told me that you want to study at the University of Colorado to learn how to build prosthetic devices to help amputees who have lost the use of their limbs.

I know that the University of Colorado has a College of Engineering and Applied Science. I am aware that CU in Boulder is home to the Engineering Plus Program, and the Center for Translational Research.

If I understand correctly, students there learn to design “sensing prosthetics” to help amputees regain “feeling” in their missing limbs. I’m thinking this probably includes working with wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other amputees.

Some time ago, I read an article about a study published in the journal, Scientific Reports.

The article describes a “physiological hand” developed at the University of Colorado. The hand uses a “neural interface” of electronic sensors connected to the brain to help amputees “feel” their missing fingers when touching objects around them. Really.

Jacob, you are an exceptional young man. I have no doubt that one day you will be the “go to” person for wounded soldiers, and other amputees.

You are the one who will help them once again touch the world. The program you have chosen at UC Boulder sounds like a wonderful environment in which to learn.

I think God must love you very much, Jacob Fletcher. Your internal whisper is strong. Honorable motivation is powerful within you.

You have been chosen by the soft, quiet voice that whispers behind you.

Your whisper is the same one that inspired Oskar Schindler, Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu, known to the world as Mother Teresa, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and other special people like them.

You will share your skill to help injured men, women, and children . . . and injured animals, too.

You have touched me, Jake, and yes, you will touch the world.

Learning is your joy, doing your best is your passion, and helping others beyond imagination is your future.

Blessings to you and to everyone you love, and to everyone who loves you. We are many.

Love, Grandpa Don