Joelison Fernandes da Silva, widely known as Ninão, has taken his first steps again after receiving custom-made prosthetic legs. At 41 years old and standing 2.37 meters tall, the man from Paraíba lost both legs due to severe health complications linked to gigantism. The program Fantástico documented this new phase of his rehabilitation, highlighting the specialized equipment created specifically to withstand his height and weight.
Ninão's life has always required significant adaptations due to his stature. His childhood was uneventful until age eight, when he began growing rapidly. By age ten, he had reached 1.70 meters, matching his father's height, and by fourteen, he stood at 1.96 meters before receiving a gigantism diagnosis caused by excessive growth hormone production. Although the condition is often associated with benign tumors requiring surgery, Ninão delayed the procedure due to fear during his adolescence. He eventually underwent the operation at age 21 but continued to grow another eight centimeters, reaching his current height and becoming recognized as Brazil's tallest man.
The excess growth hormone also led to insulin resistance and diabetes, resulting in a severe bone infection in one leg that necessitated an amputation in 2021. Although he managed to take some steps with a prosthetic from a clinic in João Pessoa the following year, the infection returned in 2024, affecting his other leg and requiring a second amputation. Facing the loss of both limbs, Ninão launched a campaign on social media to find new equipment. A specialized clinic in Sorocaba, São Paulo, responded to the request and began preparing custom solutions.
The journey from Paraíba to São Paulo required logistical adjustments, but Ninão successfully traveled to the facility where professionals took measurements using plaster molds of his body. Given his weight of approximately 185 kg, the team had to ensure the prosthetics could support him. The feet were tested for resistance in Russia by a specialized firm, with representative Dmitry Nizamov noting that the devices were engineered to withstand up to 700 kilograms. Nizamov stated that these might be the largest foot prosthetics ever produced globally.
Each prosthetic weighs about six kilograms, features a length of 38 centimeters corresponding to size 60, and includes reinforced structures. The design utilizes an initial transparent acrylic socket intended for future replacement with carbon fiber, while the rubber cover features separated toes to allow for the use of sandals and flip-flops. Upon trying on the devices, Ninão reported a comfortable fit and began training his balance between parallel bars with professional assistance.
Physiotherapist Bárbara assessed that Ninão possesses sufficient strength to maintain stability, noting that his primary goal is to resume previous activities. During rehabilitation, he trained with weights, obstacles, and a ball, even attempting juggling exercises while supported by the bars. Ninão expressed joy at taking a few steps and aims to return to adapted sports; between 2022 and 2024, he was part of the Brazilian national team in this modality. His mother, Divanilda Fernandes da Silva, watched his first steps with emotion, describing the moment as a happiness that cannot fit in her chest. Reflecting on the experience of standing again, Ninão summarized his feeling with a single word: freedom.
Sources: G1.