For children like Mathias, who is missing a hand or an arm, medical solutions aren’t miraculous. There are prostheses, but they are mostly aesthetic, non-articulated, and, as Mathias’ mother Agnès admits, “visually, they’re really not great—actually, they can be quite scary…” These cost between €2,000 and €4,000 and are the only ones reimbursed by social security.

There are also bionic hands, which are far more functional—but still not ideal for children. They are heavy, fragile, and extremely expensive, ranging from €20,000 to €40,000—ten times the price of simpler prostheses—and reimbursement is almost nonexistent.

But for the past three years, a new solution has emerged in France for children like Mathias: a free alternative that could soon change his life. Custom 3D-printed hands in the colors of his favorite superhero. And this breakthrough is thanks to one man, Thierry Oquidam—a tech geek with a big heart!