A man whose hands weigh 9kg has revealed how he secretly practises everyday tasks at night so he can do them independently without people seeing him struggle.
Mark Davidson Jacildo, from the Philippines, lives with the ultra-rare congenital condition macrodactyly, which causes abnormal growth of the fingers and surrounding tissues, including bone, soft tissue, nerves and blood vessels.
Appearance on This Morning
Mark appeared live from the Philippines on Tuesday's This Morning via video call, speaking to hosts Rylan Clark and Josie Gibson about what life is like with the condition. Rylan asked Mark how much he had been forced to adapt while growing up and going about his daily life.
Mark explained that even simple tasks that most people take for granted can be difficult for him.
“I've learned to, you know, to adapt on all things, like simple things that normal people do. I find it hard to do it,” he said.
Secret practice at night
Rather than asking others for help, Mark revealed he often practises tasks privately beforehand. “So what I do is I practise it beforehand, just so when I do those tasks or things people wouldn't see me as some kind of like a burden, for example, like buying shoes,” he explained.
Mark, who is now a father, said he has always wanted to be able to do ordinary things for himself rather than make people feel that he is different.
“I never want anyone to help me with those normal things,” he said. “I don't want them to feel that I'm different, so I had to practise doing it at night.”
His secret preparation means he can tackle the same task when he needs to without relying on somebody else. “That way on the day that I have to do it, I can do it. You know, just as how normal people do it,” Mark said.
Childhood surgery decision
Mark's appearance on This Morning offered viewers an insight into the daily challenges of living with macrodactyly, while also highlighting the lengths he has gone to maintain his independence.
The condition has been part of Mark's life since childhood. When he was seven, doctors offered him surgery that could have reduced the size and weight of his hands. However, Mark and his family were warned that there was a possibility the operation could go wrong and result in him losing his hands.
He also feared that his daughter would inherit his rare condition, but doctors reassured him that she wouldn't. This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1 and ITVX.
