Everyday we hear of somebody’s life being revolutionized by technological advancements. For one man, his life of struggle looks to be put to an end with a new lease. 59-year-old Les Baugh’s life changed when he was 17-years-old. What was supposed to be fun turnout to be the ugly twist in his life as he was challenged by his stepbrother to a race. Everything happened in a flash when he turned around and ran directly into a set of power lines. The incident was tragic as he lost both of his arms, and he was told that he wouldn’t live to see his 21st birthday. They said that if he was able to get pass age expectancy, it was likely that he wouldn’t be able to walk from then on.
“I didn’t stand a chance,” he said. “Everything I had going was gone.”
Based on a report made by the New York Times, Baugh is now living with a purpose to help people like himself to do what was once thought to be impossible, to reach, hold and grasp again. With engineers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Baugh is helping to develop prosthetics limbs called the Modular Prosthetic Limbs, that have near-functionality of full range of motion. The limbs are able to curl as much as 45 pounds.
Specialists at the University are developing the technology that responds to his brain signals , by mapping his nerve endings, the Times says. Another great feat achieved by scientist occurred last year when they were able to make a dead heart removed from a cadaver start beating again. This year, they are ready to make strides again by giving a man with no arms the gift of mobility without invasive surgeries and using only his mind. Who knows what could be accomplished next? The sky is definitely the limit.
Last year, scientists were able to make a dead heart removed from a cadaver start beating again. This year, they’ve managed to give a man with no arms the gift of mobility without invasive surgeries and using only his mind. The sky’s the limit for what we’ll accomplish next.
Check out the incredible video that covers Baugh’s story and progress with the Modular Prosthetic Limbs below.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj97vQ40mBc[/youtube]
