Carla Maronda Adapts to Life After Quadruple Amputation

Why this is here: Each of Carla’s prosthetic hands and legs weighs approximately 1.5 and 3 kilograms respectively, an external weight her body had to learn to accommodate.

In Xàtiva, Valencia, Spain, 27-year-old Carla Maronda is preparing to open her own law office this September. Following a near-fatal infection after a routine surgery, Carla underwent a quadruple amputation. She spent 12 days in a coma and faced a difficult recovery, relearning everyday tasks.

Carla describes the physical challenges of adjusting to prosthetic limbs—each hand and leg costing roughly 87,000 euros—including the weight and the need to “re-educate” her brain to control robotic hands. She details the discomfort and skin irritation caused by the prosthetics, as well as the constant maintenance required.

Despite these obstacles, Carla maintains an optimistic outlook and shares her journey on social media, demonstrating activities like horseback riding and applying makeup with her prosthetics. While she founded an association, “Tus manos son mis manos,” to help others afford prosthetics, she also points out that Spain’s social security system does not fully cover the costs, creating inequality. The work of adaptation and advocacy continues.