4-Year-Old Gets New 'Robot Arm'—Mom in Tears Over Her Response
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A girl who has spent the first four years of her life learning to manage with just one arm is finally getting her dream come true, as she prepares to get her new prosthetic.
Life certainly hasn't been easy for Kaisley Hernandez, 4, who was unexpectedly born with one full arm. On her right side, her upper arm developed, but she doesn't have a forearm. It wasn't caused by amniotic band syndrome, but rather, doctors believe that her arm just stopped developing.
Indeed, her mom, Destiny Hernandez, 30, told Newsweek that it came as quite the surprise because "no one knew until she was born." The limb difference didn't show up on any of her scans, so it was only when Kaisley was delivered that doctors announced that "she has a deformity."
However, Kaisley, of Lubbock Texas, has refused to let her disability get her down and she has become incredibly resilient in the face of adversity.
Kaisley Hernandez, 4, who was born with just part of her arm.
Kaisley Hernandez, 4, who was born with just part of her arm.
@dessshernandez / TikTok
"Kaisley is a beautiful, smart, sassy girl, and we hope the world is kind to her," Destiny said. "We have come across her being bullied, and that was hard to see, but we just tell her that not everyone understands, and some people just aren't kind."
She continued: "We encourage Kaisley and let her know that anything is possible. She can do everything she wants, and her family will be 100 percent behind her."
Of course, having two arms would make life so much easier, and it turns out that Kaisley is finally getting her wish.
In May 2025, the 4-year-old got her "nubby" molded for a brand-new activity prosthetic arm, which is sure to improve her life dramatically.
Destiny captured the incredible moment when her daughter got the mold taken and shared the video on TikTok (@dessshernandez). The video has amazed and delighted social media users, leading to more than 13.3 million views and over 1.5 million likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
During the appointment, the doctor asked Kaisley who her favorite cartoon character is, and there was only one answer for this Encanto fan: Mirabel. The sheer joy as she told the doctor she'd like Encanto-themed fabric to line her prosthetic left her mom fighting back tears.
As the cast was formed around her upper arm, Kaisley was "overwhelmed with emotions." While she did seem nervous, her mom explained that it was just because she couldn't feel her nubby while it was in the mold, and it was such an unknown experience for her to face at such a young age.
Thankfully, her mom and brothers were on hand to talk her through it and show her what an exciting opportunity this will be.
"She is so excited, and she tells everyone 'I'm getting a robot arm.' For now, we are sticking with the activity arm until she gets older and then she can decide which direction she wants to go—there are so many options to choose from," Destiny said.
Kaisley Hernandez, pictured enjoying her third birthday party with a cake and presents.
Kaisley Hernandez, pictured enjoying her third birthday party with a cake and presents.
@dessshernandez / TikTok
On June 19, Kaisley had a fit test to check her new prosthetic, and it couldn't have gone better. The family will return on July 14 for the finishing touches.
After sharing Kaisley's journey on social media, Destiny has been amazed by the supportive response. She never imagined the video would go viral, but she's glad so many people can learn about her daughter's experience, and they can cheer her on from across the world.
"We just want Kaisley to have confidence, and we let her know that it's okay to ask for help," Destiny told Newsweek.
Many social media users were brought to tears by Kaisley's reaction to the prosthetic mold, and the online reaction has generated over 7,000 comments on the viral post so far.
One comment reads: "Poor baby, she has the best big brothers."
Another TikTok user wrote: "You can see the gravity of it all just weighing on her. She's so little, but she understands it means things will be different."
While another commenter added: "Bless her little heart. It must be so overwhelming for her, big change is scary for the best of us. Your family is amazing all being there together supporting her little self."
Is there a health issue that's worrying you? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
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