Hi Patch News team,
Imagine waiting for hours in an emergency room, terrified, with no idea what’s coming next and nothing to hold onto.
That’s what I saw again and again while volunteering in MUSC’s Emergency Department. Patients sat in the waiting room anxious and on edge, and for some, the ER was the only care they could get. When we later surveyed patients, the average anxiety level on arrival was 5 out of 5, the highest it could go.
I’m Alaina Goyal, a junior at Ardrey Kell High School, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them. So I brought an idea to my FTC robotics team, Cybotz: what if we used our 3D printers to make something that could help? Together, we printed and donated 80 de-stress tools to the ED.
The response was overwhelming. When we surveyed patients and nurses, 100% said the tools helped them feel calmer, and 80% said they wouldn’t change a thing. Nurses told us the tools gave them a simple way to comfort patients in some of their hardest moments.
Something small, made by a group of high schoolers, was making a real difference in an emergency room.
Now we’re building our second batch based on that feedback, and we’re just getting started. It’s a story about local students using robotics to bring comfort to patients when they need it most.
I’d be happy to share photos, connect you with our team, or answer any questions. Thank you for considering our story!
Best,
Alaina Goyal
Ardrey Kell High School, Class of 2028
FTC Cybotz Robotics
503-336-3735
