Sometimes It’s Personal: How Design Happens Series

FreeArm™ Tube Feeding Assistant from Freearmcare.com

Misti Staley was trying to juggle her baby son Freeman, who had a feeding tube port in his belly, while holding his gravity-feeding syringe and at the same time trying to put his medications in the syringe. She realized she needed a third hand, which by the way we are not equipped with. Misti asked her husband Will, “If he could rig something up?” Will rushed out to the garage and cobbled together a few pieces of wood shaped like an upside down “L” to hold the feeding syringe, the wood parts were held together with a hinge so it could move out of the way. Of course, Will used duct tape to fasten the holder to the back of Freeman’s crib. The FreeArm™ allowed Misti to pick Freeman up and freed her hands to read to Freeman and perform other therapies like holding his pacifier so he could suck as his tummy filled.

The FreeArm™ was created; well at least there was a working mock-up. Will & Misti couldn’t believe no one had thought of this before, so they did some research, calling hospitals across the USA, discovering that they were either taping the syringe to the wall or hanging it above the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) crib with a ribbon. There was nothing available to hold a gravity-feeding syringe in the hospital or at home. Misti & Will set to work, creating a workable solution that they could offer to the world. Many iterations later, the FreeArm™ is now used every day in homes, hospitals and on-the-go, in cars, clamped to chairs, tables, strollers and more, making life just a little bit easier, safer and more comfortable for everyone.

Will Staley is Founder & Executive Director of Thrive’s Design Opportunity in Helena, Arkansas

Misti Staley is CEO of Staley House in Helena, Arkansas, and Creator of the FreeArm™ Tube Feeding Assistant

#HowDesignHappensSeries [#37]

How Design Happens
© Bruce Hannah 2019

Info

FreeArm™ / Tube Feeding Assistant
www.freearmcare.com