Like many kids, David Aguilar spent his childhood building Lego: While other kids were building model planes and miniature toy cities with the stackable plastic blocks, David was building a functional, life-sized prosthetic arm.
advertisementDavid Aguilar was diagnosed at birth with Poland syndrome, a congenital disorder that causes muscles to only partially develop. David was born without his right forearm, but he didn’t realize there was anything different about him until he started school and was bullied.
To escape reality, David retreated to his bedroom and fell in love with Lego. Infatuated with the endless possibilities the blocks promised, he built his first prosthetic arm.
David tells SCENES that when he showed his creation to his friends at school, they were speechless. As his confidence grew, he built more versions of the LEGO prosthesis, each one more functional and comfortable. With MK1, he was able to do push-ups, and by MK2, he had the dexterity to lift a sandwich.
Over time, David realized he had something special in his hand. His prosthetic is simple and can be easily replicated. To help others like him, David posted a tutorial on his prosthetic on YouTube. The young inventor hopes the video will help them get through a difficult time.
Building a prosthetic arm out of LEGO was a life-changing experience for David. He has won Guinness World Records and spoken at conferences around the world. Best of all, David is using his birth defect to inspire others and help create a better world.
journalist • Sharifah Fadila Alshahab