Legos are a fun way for kids to get creative and build miniature worlds. For David Aguilar, however, the plastic bricks hold much more potential.
The 19-year-old was born without a right forearm and pectoral muscle due to a rare genetic condition called Poland syndrome. Unfortunately, it made him a target for bullies from a young age, but he never let it stop him from pursuing his dreams. In fact, his difference inspired him to use his favorite toy to give others like him a better life.
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David, who studies bioengineering at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Spain, has been building artificial limbs for himself since he was just a little boy. While that’s impressive enough, get this – the material he uses to make them are pieces from various Lego sets!
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At just nine years old, David constructed his first Lego prosthesis. Since then, he’s gone on to make four more, with each allowing for more movement than the previous version.
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“As a child, I was very nervous to be in front of other guys, because I was different,” David said. “But that didn’t stop me from believing in my dreams.”
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In a tribute to the Marvel comic hero Iron Man and his MK suits, David has taken to naming each of his prostheses MK-I, MK-II, MK-III, etc. He doesn’t use them all the time, but likes having custom-built arms for when he needs them.
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Each of the Lego arms takes hours to build. David shares videos of the process on his YouTube channel, Hand Solo, and also showcases how they bend in the elbow joint and have a flexible grabber.
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David’s ultimate goal is to use his skills to create more affordable options for people who need prostheses, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.
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Not only is this young man incredibly innovative, but it’s clear he also has a very compassionate, generous heart. We wish him the best of luck as he continues working on his creations and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!
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Learn more about David’s story in the video below, and don’t forget to share his amazing work.
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