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00:00These people live without some or all of their limbs.
00:03There's only 25 people in the world.
00:05This is my condition.
00:07The day I came out, it was a little bit different.
00:08I am three foot four and I was born without any arms.
00:13It is what it is.
00:14Each have found their own unique ways to adapt to the world around them.
00:18When somebody tells me I can't do something, that's just that fire,
00:21that fuel to make sure I can do it.
00:22Most things I can do, just in my own way, just a little more difficult than others.
00:27And none of them have allowed their limb differences to stop them from finding love.
00:32The condition never affected our love life, our relationship.
00:37You look good.
00:38You look cute.
00:40But they have all faced challenges and judgment along the way.
00:43When we first met, I did think the height difference was going to be sort of a problem.
00:49People will find a way to attack us in any way that they can just because they don't understand it.
00:53So how did these limb different partners, parents, and childhood sweethearts overcome
00:59so many obstacles to live a life filled with love?
01:02It don't matter what age, what color you is, as long as you love that person, that's all that matters.
01:06Love conquer all.
01:12Good job.
01:13You got it.
01:13Good job.
01:14It's okay.
01:16It's okay.
01:16It's okay.
01:19In Michigan, 40-year-old Ryan's limbs were underdeveloped at birth.
01:23I'm a husband, father, and I was born with a disability called congenital limb deficiency
01:28that made me born without arms and legs.
01:31Do you want head socks for yours, Ray?
01:32Yes, please.
01:33Okay.
01:34And then I'll bring it up.
01:36All right, you're better at it.
01:38Actually, I have arms and legs, but they're much shorter.
01:41This is for my cooking show, Cooking With No Hands.
01:44The kind of questions I get are always range from like, how do you drive?
01:49How do you eat?
01:50How do you have children?
01:52And I mean, just any question you can think of, how do you go to the bathroom?
01:56And everybody's like, oh, doesn't that bother you?
01:58Isn't that annoying?
01:59The hardest thing about living with no arms and legs is that people see me without arms and legs.
02:04I don't want you to look at me as someone with no arms and legs.
02:06I want you to look at me as my friend, my colleague, or some really cool guy that has a sweet sneaker collection.
02:16Okay, let's start on a different pancake.
02:19When I was first born, the doctors took me away from my parents.
02:24And my mom asked the doctors, like, where's my son at?
02:27And they said, there's been a problem and we wanted to talk to you about this before we bring him in here.
02:34And she said, no, please bring my son in right away.
02:37Ryan was written off by doctors from the very first day of his life.
02:41And they said, well, your son was born without arms and legs.
02:45And before we give them to you, we want you to know that it's okay if you don't want to keep him.
02:52And my mom said, what are you talking about?
02:53That's my son.
02:54Bring me my son now.
02:59They said that Ryan will never have a regular job or be able to go to school or drive a wheelchair.
03:05He'll never be able to drive a car.
03:12He'll never be able to have a family.
03:16So when somebody tells me I can't do something, that's just that fire, that fuel to make sure I can do it.
03:21And that will to prove people wrong carried over into Ryan's love life.
03:25I met my wife when I was 20 years old.
03:28What are you working on?
03:29I did this one earlier.
03:30Oh, that's sweet. I saw you post that.
03:32When I first met Ryan, I didn't see him as being different. We just connected.
03:39We just kind of hit it off right away and that was it.
03:45Ryan is now not only a husband, but a father to two children.
03:50My kids are my life. Like everything I do, I do for them.
03:56How he moves through life and the way that he was born is so natural for us.
04:02We just see him as our dad.
04:06He's taught us so many different things that other fathers might not teach us.
04:11You can't go around and complain about the little things that other people might be able to do.
04:18He really changes your outlook on life.
04:25Alexa, turn on office.
04:30So this is my office where I work at home, work on stuff for social media.
04:34Started collecting shoes when I was a kid.
04:37Luckily, they don't get dirty because I don't walk on the ground and my feet haven't grown.
04:42So I've been able to save a bunch since I was young.
04:44A few years ago, I was at work and someone rang up to me and I said,
04:48hey, my cousin's wife is having a baby.
04:52And they just found out that she's going to be born without arms.
04:54Would you mind meeting with her before the baby's born?
04:59And if you don't want to do it, I completely understand.
05:02And I said, of course, I would love to.
05:06Ryan now travels across the country,
05:08meeting children, learning to adapt to their own limb differences.
05:11Hey, what's up?
05:14Are we going up this way?
05:17Hi.
05:17Hey, how are you doing?
05:21Hi, guys.
05:22We found out about Ryan when I was pregnant.
05:25We were so excited to meet his family because there was so much unknown.
05:30Say hi.
05:31Happy birthday.
05:32Can you tell him hi?
05:33Come out when you want.
05:3411 or 3.
05:34Boo!
05:35Oh, you're scared.
05:37He said, do you want to go upstairs?
05:39And what did you say?
05:40Yes.
05:44Gabriella, she just turned two in August, and she was born with no arms and shortened legs.
05:51Nothing seems to stop her.
05:52I mean, she gets around the house as much as anybody else can.
05:56She plays with her toys that she has.
05:59I want to dance with somebody.
06:02I spelled it up.
06:04You like the song?
06:05Oh, did you hear?
06:10I signed it.
06:11You got to help me.
06:13Yay!
06:14Our youngest son, Owen, is three and a half, and he was born with congenital limb differences
06:21affecting all four of his limbs.
06:23Don't you do it.
06:24Don't do it.
06:25Get out.
06:26For Owen to even see a role model just like himself.
06:30Get it.
06:31Just ask me to...
06:32Every time Ryan's here, you know, it lights up, Owen.
06:36I'm gonna light this one up.
06:37I'm gonna light this one up.
06:38So much fun.
06:39They're pulling right here.
06:40So much.
06:42Are you gonna knock it over?
06:43You get it?
06:44Knock it over.
06:44Get set, go.
06:56Who's gonna win?
06:59Oh, shoot.
07:01I won.
07:03You won.
07:04Like, when I was younger and growing up, my parents didn't know anybody that was born like me.
07:11So, like, I just love that I'm able to, like, meet kids that are born like me and maybe teach
07:19them a few things that, like, that I've learned.
07:21Ryan's just an invaluable person to us.
07:24And they give me pizza, so it's really good.
07:26Yeah.
07:28Say bye, Ryan.
07:28Bye.
07:29Bye.
07:32Boom.
07:33Love you.
07:33Love you.
07:35Today was amazing.
07:37We, uh, built some blocks, walls, and we knocked them down.
07:40Just like we're gonna do every day in our life.
07:42We're gonna face some challenges.
07:44We're gonna build them up, and we're gonna knock them down.
07:48It was a comfort to meet somebody who was never letting anything stop him.
07:55There's a saying, you know, like, failure's not an option.
07:58My saying is failure is a must.
08:02You can't learn anything in life unless you fail at it.
08:05You try and you fail.
08:08Say bye.
08:08Say love you.
08:09Bye bye.
08:10When I sit back and think about all the adversity I faced and everything that I've had to deal with,
08:15I'm definitely proud of myself.
08:19You know, fighting through all those things and being who I am today.
08:28Thirty-year-old Jaleesa stands at three foot four, and she was born with no arms.
08:33I didn't mind having any arms.
08:36I mean, it is what it is.
08:40We used to put pillows on the side.
08:42I don't know what happened this day, but boy, she would always fall out the bed.
08:46She was just so frisky.
08:51She was a happy baby, though.
08:52She was.
08:53She was probably 13 months on this picture, even though she still looked like a hand baby.
08:59She just was small for her size.
09:01She was a lively little something, and I was quite overwhelmed.
09:06But I had my family as support.
09:09And being as though she looked just like my mom when she was born, I loved her immediately.
09:14I protected her the best of my ability.
09:17And with that and her siblings, we just pushed through life.
09:22And here we are.
09:22Mm-hmm.
09:23I didn't experience bullying.
09:25Like in elementary, yeah, you know, kids are kids, so they don't know any better.
09:30People loved me.
09:33I think they loved me because I was like a little doll to them.
09:37Jaleesa's natural confidence enabled her to adapt to the world around her.
09:41Everyday tasks that I can still do is brush my teeth, use my phone, work on an everyday basis.
09:54Brushing my teeth became easy. It was never difficult.
09:57On a good day, I am able to take myself to the restroom.
10:02I can do a little everything by myself. Some days I can eat with my feet.
10:08I'm able to hold the cups with my feet.
10:13Jaleesa met her fiancé, Jonathan, more than a decade ago.
10:18She's just a great, great person, great friend.
10:20We're just a team, you know, we work well together.
10:26And she feed off my energy, I feed off her energy.
10:33Met through mutual friends, and we just grew to learn to love each other.
10:37And with Jonathan standing more than two feet taller than Jaleesa,
10:43the couple draw attention when they're out in public.
10:45People always, when they see me and him, like, walking out,
10:48they'll come and give him a handshake and tell him, tell him, I salute you.
10:52You're doing a good job. Like, I salute you guys.
10:55We don't really have issues with people.
10:57Her condition never affected our love life, our relationship.
11:02I just love her as a regular person.
11:04I always say he's strong. He's a strong black man.
11:09And I make sure, some days I have my cranky days, but I try not to complain.
11:16Because I know he, sometimes he get tired.
11:19I mean, not tired, but, um, he gets overwhelmed, probably.
11:25I mean, not tired, but, um...
11:29All right, good job. You're doing a good job, man.
11:33What's wrong?
11:37Ooh.
11:39Hold up.
11:39Go ahead.
11:44Ooh, I left.
11:45I left.
11:46Come on.
11:47All right, all right.
11:48Are you all right?
11:49Are you okay?
11:49Yeah.
11:50You were brutal for you.
11:51Come on.
11:53But, um...
11:55It feels great to know that Jonathan is actually by my side.
12:04And although Jaleesa has never received an official diagnosis,
12:07that hasn't stopped her living life to the full.
12:10My symptoms hasn't been properly diagnosed.
12:14We just basically explain the things that I don't have, which is knees, stunted growth,
12:21and without any arms.
12:24I really feel like I'm doing a good job for me to be that person three foot four without any arms,
12:32doing things that someone probably six foot or five foot, you know, someone taller than me, basically.
12:40She got a big heart.
12:41Got it.
12:43She's just doing things I never would have dreamed of.
12:46Everything they told me that she wasn't gonna do, she's done and doing.
12:51And here I am, 30 years old, able to do the things that they said I can't do,
12:58which is walk, talk, and live my best life.
13:0722-year-old Brodie was born a congenital bilateral amputee, meaning he was born without legs.
13:13There's nothing too crazy about it. A lot of people have crazy stories,
13:17and just, the day I came out, it was a little bit different.
13:20Brodie lives with his girlfriend, Meneses, and the couple go way back.
13:24The first time we met each other was so long ago.
13:26We were in kindergarten.
13:27We were in kindergarten.
13:28It wasn't until really, like, high school when I really became, like, close, close friends.
13:34Senior year, Brodie asked me to prom, and I knew that I was in love with him.
13:38Meneses just has that radiating glow of, like, happiness and joy,
13:45and it's just contagious.
13:47Brodie and Meneses decided to start making TikToks together.
13:51Come out of your shell a little bit.
13:52I'm getting ripped tonight.
13:54No, I'm getting fit tonight. RIP.
13:56Oh, I thought it was, I'm getting ripped.
14:00I'm getting ripped tonight.
14:03You didn't even know the words.
14:06Come on.
14:07I'm getting ripped tonight. RIP.
14:10You didn't say it.
14:11How did we all just blow this?
14:15I'm getting ripped tonight. RIP that.
14:18I forgot to say it.
14:24I'm getting ripped tonight. RIP that.
14:30Post it up.
14:31I'll post it up.
14:32But after making their relationship public, they were surprised by some of the negativity.
14:36At the beginning, I feel like I had to block a lot of people to not continuously feel judged by them.
14:43They would just assume automatically that I was with him for his money or that I was with him
14:49because he was going to give me clout on social media or something like that,
14:52which was the worst. It was constant.
14:55I took it very, very strongly at first that I couldn't face all that judgment.
15:00And it really came from him telling me these people don't know us.
15:05And it's not that it's our job to show them our relationship,
15:09but it's our job to show them that it's a natural love and a real love.
15:12People will find a way to attack us, whether it's our relationship, whether it's individually,
15:16whether in any way that they can just because they don't understand it.
15:20I think the more we post, like, the more people will just, like, kind of...
15:24Ease up.
15:25Yeah, just, like, become part of, like, our little family, kind of,
15:30and just, like, understand and respect our relationship instead of, like,
15:35thinking it's this weird thing.
15:36Yeah.
15:37As well as online, the couple faced judgment in public.
15:40The thing is, is, like, people are not as bold in public.
15:45As they are online.
15:45As they are, like, in the comment section.
15:48So, I mean, we'll definitely get stares and stuff while we're out in public,
15:52but no one, like, will actually say anything about it.
15:56What's up?
15:57You ready?
15:57Yeah, I'm ready.
15:58You want to go?
15:58Let's go.
15:59Okay.
16:00Today we're heading off to the trail that we like to hike at in Murfreesboro.
16:06We never worry about what people think when we go out in public.
16:09Brody grew up people staring at him, people still stare at him.
16:12He's kind of oblivious to that at this point.
16:14Like, I'll be like, did you see those people?
16:16And I'll be like, no, did not see those people.
16:18So, it's taught me to be oblivious to the people too.
16:21It's like we're getting married, babe.
16:23We got a videographer.
16:24This is hand control.
16:26You push down for gas and you push in for brake.
16:29And that's literally all there is to it.
16:31It's like the easiest possible way to drive.
16:35So, I kind of love it.
16:36We should check out our TikTok.
16:41Yeah.
16:42I'm excited.
16:43Let's see how it did.
16:44Oh, 128,000 views.
16:46Wow.
16:47It's pretty good.
16:47It's a good one.
16:48Let me see.
16:49Let me be the first to read the comments.
16:51Okay, okay.
16:53Someone said, how does he pee?
16:55Like, we've answered that question so many times.
16:59Yeah, we've been through it so many, so many times.
17:01We don't know that we grew up together from kindergarten, middle school.
17:04Like, we've gone through everything in life together.
17:07Someone said, you guys have such a genuine, fun, and friendly vibe.
17:11I love watching your videos.
17:12Your laugh is incredible.
17:13I think we've been really working hard to get through it and kind of look past the
17:18mean comments people have been leaving.
17:20That's a good one.
17:21That's a really nice one.
17:24I love that.
17:25I love when it reaches the right people, you know?
17:27Yeah.
17:28People are like, oh, I really needed a laugh today.
17:30Where are your sandals from?
17:31They are so cute.
17:34People were really nice today.
17:35Right?
17:36I think that in the future, we're going to continue to show our love on social media
17:40and create those relationships that we want to create on social media,
17:43put our life out there, create content.
17:46It's a lot of fun.
17:47We hope to continue to live this amazing life that we can include more people through social
17:54media and show them, like, hey, you can do anything.
17:56You can do absolutely anything and we're going to support you and we believe in you.
18:04The 28-year-old TikTok star, Ren, growing up without hands and elbows was a steep learning curve.
18:10Everyone in my life was born with hands, so I had to teach myself, like,
18:14how to get up, eat with silverware or get dressed and all that other stuff.
18:19My hair, like, brushing the back of it is, like, hard to reach sometimes.
18:24I was born without hands and elbows.
18:28I was never diagnosed.
18:29I have never seen, like, an x-ray of my arms, but through the years of doing my own research,
18:35we've come to a close possibility that it could be some form of amalia disorder.
18:40I call them nubs, but I've been calling them nubs since I was little or nubbies.
18:45My TikTok name is nubbies, like, that's just what people know me as.
18:50Why was it important to you to be able to do things independently?
18:53Mainly because I don't really have, like, family in my life, like, or whatever,
18:58as I was, like, growing up. I was adopted when I was 11 years old.
19:02My adoptive mom, she would make sure I would learn how to do something,
19:07and even if it was really irritating me, she'd be like,
19:10no, keep going. You have to do it until you get it.
19:12I really hated it, but, like, now I am, like, super grateful for it,
19:16because I do everything, most everything, by myself.
19:19Obviously, like, I'm going to need help with some things, which I'm so grateful
19:24for my boyfriend for that. He has to help me with a lot of things,
19:27and sometimes I feel bad, but I still am pretty independent.
19:35And not a single shell.
19:38Usually, I have Timmy helping me with this stuff, like, the messy stuff.
19:42Before meeting her boyfriend, Wren struggled for years with dating,
19:47and she believes this was due to her limb difference.
19:49Dating was difficult in the past. Boys, they didn't want to be embarrassed.
19:53My first relationship, I didn't want to hold my hand.
19:57And they said it, like, straight up to me, like, it's just weird.
20:00I don't know how I'm going to hold your hand.
20:01It would have been nice if we could have found a way.
20:04And then my second relationship cheated on me.
20:06My third wasn't there on an emotional level.
20:08I don't know if I'm doing this right. Should I flip it?
20:10What's up? You can flip it if you want.
20:12I just got fed up, and then I met Timmy.
20:18Oh, no!
20:19We met on Bumble. We chatted for a couple weeks.
20:24Uh, and Timmy asked me on a date.
20:27I was definitely nervous that, like, he was gonna, like, be questionable about how the relationship
20:32was gonna go, or just be nervous to be seen in public with me.
20:35I like to just go into things with an open mind.
20:37I'll try anything once. I'll just jump in and see how things work.
20:41And it's been working itself out, so it's been great.
20:45We've been living together for, like, a year.
20:47And I think this is, like, the first time I've ever actually, like, felt love from someone.
20:51I don't know. I think I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life.
20:54With Timmy by her side, Ren found the confidence to try out TikTok.
20:58Everyone was, like, talking about how cringey TikTok was.
21:00And the only reason I joined was to watch the cringe videos.
21:03And then I was like, well, I had this funny video
21:06of me putting my arm in a hot dog bun and putting ketchup on it.
21:10So let's post that real quick.
21:17I got, like, 300,000 likes, uh, within a couple days.
21:21So we just kept posting.
21:22And I did, like, a lot of videos of me kind of just making fun of, like, my disability,
21:26but kind of, like, a heartwarming way.
21:28But I'll also post things about awareness towards it.
21:31Like, I'll talk about discrimination and stuff on there.
21:33I get so many good compliments.
21:35Like, people are always complimenting my outfits.
21:37I do, like, a lot of little dancing videos.
21:39And people are always, like, hyped about my dancing.
21:42And then, obviously, those comments that are very, like, icky.
21:45Like, sometimes they'll ask me, like, how do you use the bathroom and wipe?
21:49And how do you take a shower?
21:50Like, I never have this in public ever.
21:53No one ever just comes to me and says, like, how do you wipe yourself?
21:56Nobody says that to my face.
21:58It's always behind the screen.
21:59Because people are like, oh, I can say whatever I want.
22:01They'll never find me.
22:02But you're just hurting my feelings and you're making me uncomfortable.
22:05Oh, green screen.
22:07That's a funny one.
22:08Sometimes people think I'm just AI'd or green screened.
22:10I mean, I guess AI could do it, but these aren't AI.
22:12These aren't.
22:13I'm very much born with no hands.
22:16Most of the time, people are really nice.
22:17Mostly positive.
22:19I've had people come to me and tell me, like,
22:20you've helped me, like, stay alive or other stuff like that.
22:24And it's super heartwarming.
22:25I'm just like, I can't fathom that I, like, you know, did that much for someone.
22:29And it's not just Timmy's love and support that Wren can count on.
22:32How are you?
22:33Good.
22:34I'm good.
22:34Good to see you.
22:35My little brother, Brody, we were adopted by the same parents.
22:39Brody, he has autism.
22:41And so there was kids that would push him into lockers.
22:43He had a stuttering issue.
22:45And, like, if I was with him in that school, I'd be there to help him.
22:50Well, growing up with Wren as kids, we fought a little bit.
22:54But she was that one person that was always there by my side.
22:57And we've been through everything together.
22:59But what about, like, me as having no hands?
23:02How was it watching me learn how to do things?
23:05I was actually, as a kid, I was always jealous.
23:08Because you always, like, good drawer.
23:11Like, through, like, painting, you're always better at drawing and painting.
23:15And you learn how to tie your shoes first.
23:17I was almost trying to learn things before you.
23:23That's kind of funny.
23:25People in public, they tend to stare at me.
23:28Most of the time, they don't mean any harm.
23:30So, like, whatever, I don't say anything.
23:32Like, if I catch them staring, I just, like, look away.
23:35Usually when I go out in public, I wear sleeves.
23:37Like, I cover up my arms or I wear a cardigan to cover up my arms.
23:40I, like, went out in public the other day without a cardigan for the first time in years.
23:47I was actually able to ignore people staring at me.
23:50So that was very nice.
23:51But I think it helped because I just got this tattoo.
23:54And I want to show it off.
23:55I wanted an arm band of all different hand emojis.
23:59So I could be, like, yeah, thumbs up.
24:01Or, yeah, no, thumbs down.
24:02Or, or the Italian one right there.
24:06Yeah.
24:08Amanda, how are you?
24:10I remember, like, younger people would, would, would look, it would, like, stress you out.
24:15And you, and you just, you would almost feel like a person.
24:19But as the years have gone on, you've, like, not really cared so much as what people think.
24:24You're like, this, this is me, this is who I am.
24:28I mean, I have only known you a little over a year.
24:33But, I mean, I feel like you embody confidence.
24:37I don't know why anybody wouldn't want to just come over and start talking to you.
24:40Because you're genuinely an interesting person.
24:42Oh, you're so sweet.
24:45Okay, it's been a while.
24:49I'm just a person.
24:50Like, I have hobbies.
24:52I can do everything like everyone else.
24:54Just because I'm disabled doesn't mean I'm from a different planet.
24:57I have, like, the same thoughts as everyone else and I do the same things as everyone.
25:01And I also have probably the same goals as a lot of people.
25:04I would really like to be an actress.
25:06Like, I think that would be really cool.
25:12We'll see how it goes.
25:13I just kind of let life flow.
25:14I hope that people understand that people with disabilities are more capable than they expect.
25:20We find our ways.
25:21Like, eventually, it takes time, but we find our ways.
25:24In Santa Fe, 34-year-old Nathan was born without thighs, and his condition is ultra-rare.
25:31My condition that I have is bilateral PFFD, grade D, which basically means I'm missing from
25:39my hips to below my knees on both legs.
25:43These are where you can see the bones that they sit right here and right here.
25:49And they're not attached.
25:50So there's only 25 people in the world that have grade D. As far as I've been told, I'm the only one
25:57that has figured out how to walk.
26:01I'm not really made to walk. And so every day I choose to do that, it comes with a payoff.
26:07I'm just literally walking on the tips of bones. So throughout the day, eventually,
26:13that wears me out and brings pain out.
26:15Nathan fell in love with Chelsea. And together, the couple overcame some initial challenges.
26:22When Nathan struggled with full-time work, the couple decided to set up a small business together.
26:28From a young age, Debra learned to use her feet as hands.
26:31Debra was born with Focomedia, a rare condition that caused her arms and hands to be underdeveloped
26:37at birth. Debra soon found that support in now husband Nathan.
26:43When Debra found out she was pregnant, she was anxious about the new challenges ahead.
26:48Debra's adoptive mum, Michelle, has been there for her through the most difficult periods of her life.
26:53He's very capable of doing a lot of things, more than I would have ever expected.
26:59When Catherine and Lewis first met, the pair felt an instant connection.
27:03But many people doubted their relationship would last because of Catherine's condition.
27:09Catherine has a YouTube channel with almost one million subscribers, where she shares her daily
27:14experiences. Catherine and Lewis have not allowed the haters to get them down.
27:21Unlike everyone else in this video, Joseph was not born without his limbs.
27:25Joseph has worked hard to build a life for himself and also for his family.
27:32And as if his story wasn't unique enough, Joseph is known for having a special ability.
27:38Joseph's determination to create a happy home is paid off, but he also has an unexpected talent
27:44that saw him star in a music video. If you enjoyed these things,
27:48was just being able to be okay with people's curiosities. People call me a midget a lot,
27:56which is an uneducated thing. When Nathan struggled with full-time work,
28:01the couple decided to set up a small business together. To be able to cover medical expenses
28:07when your health is very unpredictable, that's been my biggest challenge. And I'm trying to keep a
28:14stable job where you can be reliable every day. That's why I guess I lean towards doing things like
28:20jewelry because then it can go on my schedule. A lot of us are born with no limitations, no obstacles,
28:29and still find ways to limit ourselves. Nathan, on the other hand, has been born without femurs,
28:36and that's a game changer in everything that you want to do. Yet he doesn't see it as a limitation.
28:42He figures out how to make whatever situation he's in, how to figure out how to make it work.
28:47He could become an inspiration to more and more people if they heard his story.
28:52I really want to be able to help people. I want to be able to use my experiences to help people get
29:00through the hard times that they're having with healing, whether it's emotional or physical.
29:07He's learned that there's no thing that he can't do. He can drive a car. He can basically do anything
29:13that he needs to do in his own way. He doesn't self-impose limitations on himself. He just figures
29:19out how to do it. The only thing that I've not seen him be able to do is dunk a basketball.
29:25Having Nathan by my side all the time is like having the greatest teacher that he could have in life.
29:31He really inspires me and shows me that I can do anything that I put my mind to just by him simply
29:39being him. I don't see myself as different. I think that a lot of people that have a disability
29:46really live in that disability. My disability is something that doesn't define me.
29:54From a young age, Deborah learned to use her feet as hands.
29:57When I was a kid, probably around five or six, my mom probably just let me
30:04try to hold a brush. I'm sure I tried with my hands and pretty
30:08quickly realized that my fingers aren't strong enough. So all I have is my feet. I also use my feet
30:14to open doors, reach a mug out of the cupboard, straighten my hair. Yeah, I mean anything that
30:21like is inconvenient to use my hands for. Deborah was born with folk homelia,
30:26a rare condition that caused her arms and hands to be underdeveloped at birth.
30:30I have to adapt to the world and adapt to everything being made for people with hands.
30:38And that's definitely been a journey. Growing up, other kids obviously noticed that I look different.
30:46Sometimes, you know, I'd get the comments, the stares. There's definitely insecurity when,
30:52you know, like you notice people are staring at you. It's, it's constant. You know, sometimes a kid
31:01will be like, yeah, what's wrong with your arms? And it's like, I was born different. I was adopted
31:08at four and a half by my parents, who are American. My family helped me a lot growing up. I had help
31:16getting dressed until I learned how to do it myself. My sister helped me do my hair. Hey babe.
31:22Hungry, yeah? I still get help when I don't need it sometimes because it's easier to have somebody
31:30just come expedite. Deborah soon found that support in now husband Nathan. Before Nathan,
31:38I didn't really date a lot, but I felt like the guys, you know, maybe weren't interested and I felt
31:45pretty insecure. You know, will someone want to date someone like me? When I was dating Nathan,
31:50it was really different than any relationships I had ever had previously. He just genuinely
31:57respected me for who I was. Here we are, 11 years later, married with a kid.
32:04Okay. I'm going to get started on the lunch sandwiches.
32:10When Deborah found out she was pregnant, she was anxious about the new challenges ahead.
32:14When I found out I was expecting Matthew, it was scary. It, uh, how am I going to do this without
32:23arms? I was scared to hold him. I, you know, had to figure out how to nurse him, change his diaper,
32:29but we figured it out. I kind of hugged him and lifted and, uh, that's still how I pick him up to this day.
32:38Hey guys. I want to share with you one of my favorite weekend lunch ideas, uh, that we make,
32:45uh, for family lunch. In 2021, Matthew, he, he saw the TikTok app and was like,
32:53we need to start doing TikToks. Putting myself out there was really scary. You know,
32:59are people going to judge me? Are people going to be mean? I do get weird comments and questions.
33:04Hundreds of comments. Like you look like a dinosaur. I thought T-Rex's were extinct. I was like,
33:10okay. Okay. So the first video I made that went viral was me wearing T-Rex fingers.
33:20People say what they want to say, and it's up to you how you want to respond.
33:25You know what? I feel like a lot of people on TikTok say that I look like a T-Rex.
33:31And you know what I say?
33:38You know, it's a choice. You can be sad and poor me. And I, I have those moments. I'm human,
33:47but like, I try to have like a positive, funny outlook.
33:53Deborah's adoptive mom, Michelle, has been there for her through the most difficult periods of her
33:57life. Okay. Hi, hon. My mom has been hugely important in my life. She was my biggest advocate,
34:05still is, if I need it. Hey, I brought, um, I brought those pictures we were talking about.
34:12Oh, fine. You found the photos? This is the one they sent to us when we were planning to adopt you.
34:20It's in the orphanage. I ended up in an orphanage because my birth mother had me at the hospital
34:25and decided to leave without me. There's times I really struggled with. She just left me there
34:32and like, you know, kind of felt, felt sad about that. How could you just leave?
34:36We thought we would be a good family for her, but we were still really nervous. I knew that there
34:44would be challenges and there were some challenges between the ages of about seven and 14. While she
34:53was growing, um, her stubs would, the bone in her stub would grow and start to poke through her skin.
34:59So about twice a year, she would have to have surgeries to file down the bones in her skin.
35:05Like these pictures of you after surgeries, how you were still smiling.
35:10It wasn't so often that like, I became friends with the nurses.
35:15She was always such a good sport about it. She doesn't feel sorry for herself.
35:21Isn't she cute? Did you know your mom was that cute?
35:26She's worked hard. She's just met many, many challenges. I just, I'm so grateful that she's in my life.
35:35Awesome.
35:38Debra is amazing. As a wife, she's inspiring. You know, as a mother, she's loving and caring and fun.
35:47You know, you can't judge a, judge a book by the cover, you know.
35:50Yeah. When I look back and think how far I've come, I've adapted well to life and I have this beautiful
35:59family and you know, I'm happy. Like what more can you ask for? I'm proud of myself for putting myself
36:07out there and being brave and kind of sharing my story. Growing up, there weren't people
36:15like me on TV. You know, we weren't out and about. And now we have a platform where we can be like,
36:23we're here. We're taking up space. Maybe one day a kid with a limb difference is going to be
36:29scrolling TikTok and be like, oh, she looks like me.
36:3630-year-old Catherine is happily married to Lewis.
36:39When Catherine and Lewis first met, the pair felt an instant connection.
36:54And my mother had a dinner and I would go all day to this dinner. And he would go all day,
36:58but in different times. And it was months, he would go and we never did.
37:04Until then, I arrived earlier from work. And then he was there.
37:08We met him there. And he was at the first time.
37:12That was it? Yes, it was.
37:13Yes, it was.
37:14But many people doubted that their relationship would last because of Catherine's condition.
37:18I have a congenital deficiency of the upper members and the armresting of the left.
37:24Catherine has a YouTube channel with almost 1 million subscribers,
37:28where she shares her daily experiences.
37:30My channel on YouTube, it talks about overcoming. It talks about people who have
37:37apparently some physical limitation, but who have not left to live,
37:41have a quality of life, because they have a, you know,
37:45deficiency, let's say yes. There are also the bad comments.
37:48The haters who say bad, that my bed is dirty, that it's ugly.
37:53There are comments of all kinds. There are the people of Podophilus,
37:59the fans of the foot, who are crazy with the foot.
38:02There are everything in my channel.
38:03Look at this one.
38:07She didn't have to cook with the foot.
38:12She didn't have to cook with the foot.
38:14She didn't have to cook with the foot.
38:15The haters, they, as vezes, comentam coisas desagradáveis,
38:19né, de relacionamento.
38:21Ah, mas pra que tá junto? Pra que se não arruma outra?
38:23A outra, algumas mulheres também, né, ficam dando em cima do Luiz,
38:27falando que elas têm que ficar com ele.
38:29Alguns homens também fazem gracinha.
38:32A gente não importa do, é, necessário negativo da pessoa.
38:37A pessoa, talvez, ela fale, ah, não tem capacidade de fazer a coisa
38:40e vai queimando a pessoa.
38:42Muito necessário negativo.
38:44Isso aÃ, pra gente, não importa, não.
38:46Catherine e Luiz
38:47have not allowed the haters to get them down.
38:49Pra mim, nunca foi problema, não.
38:51Porque a deficiência dela não influencia em nada pra mim.
38:55Pra mim, ela é normal, a gente, as atividades vão ser tudo normal, tranquila.
39:00Pra mim, nunca teve empecilho em nada.
39:02Preciso ajudar ela, assim, igual vestir a roupa, que é a calça mais difÃcil,
39:06abotoar a calça, o vestir, que é mais difÃcil.
39:09E se ajudar a vestir, é nessas coisas, assim, mais rápido, né?
39:12Quando a gente sai pra algum lugar, as pessoas olham, as pessoas, é,
39:17que falam, nossa, olha o menino assim, nossa, olha o casal assim,
39:22a gente escuta, sabe?
39:24Ou coisa legal, nossa, que bonitinho.
39:26Ou o povo já olhando com aquela cara, hum, acontece.
39:32Não ter os braços não me faz menos esposa pro meu marido.
39:35Tá num relacionamento com uma pessoa com deficiência
39:38é igual outro relacionamento com qualquer outra pessoa.
39:40Quer ter uma esposa maravilhosa, eu amo ela.
39:44Não ter os braços é apenas uma caracterÃstica fÃsica.
39:47Pra mim, o amor por ela é tudo.
39:49Eu tenho, assim, a gente, muito companheirista, né?
39:54A gente é muito companheiro, ela me completa.
39:58Eu espero pro nosso futuro que coisas boas aconteçam,
40:01que os nossos sonhos se realizem
40:03e que, como qualquer outro casal, a gente tem vontades, tem anseios.
40:07E eu acredito que isso vai se realizar em breve, sim.
40:10O futuro reserva muitas coisas boas pra gente.
40:13Como todos os outros em este vÃdeo,
40:17Joseph não morreu sem os limos.
40:20Joseph não morreu sem os limos.
40:22Joseph não morreu sem.
40:24Joseph não morreu sem.
40:26Então, eles tinham que amputar para salvar minha vida.
40:29Joseph não morreu sem.
40:31Joseph não morreu sem.
40:33Joseph não morreu sem.
40:35Porque todos me usam tratando de me diferente.
40:38E, mais, eu crescientei em um sistema.
40:41Hoje, eu posso viver sem limos.
40:43E, mais, não morreu sem problemas.
40:45E, eu não me importe o que as pessoas falam.
40:47Eu tenho que viver para mim e ser confortável com minha vida.
40:52Eu acho que, depois de um tempo,
40:54eu aprendi a transformar minha vida em algo que eu ganhei.
40:59Quando eu uso de um camada, eu posso ir na frente e na frente.
41:16Eu uso de um camada, em e na frente,
41:17quando eu uso de camada ou quando eu uso de camada.
41:22E, assim, eu uso de camada e também.
41:23E, também, quando eu trabalho.
41:26Eu trabalho em um alimento.
41:27I'm probably the first character they ever have with no hands, no legs.
41:32Joseph has worked hard to build a life for himself and also for his family.
41:36Hello, Justin.
41:39Hey there, this is me.
41:42Yeah, what's up?
41:43Do you know how you can take the plates off the stove, like to clean them good?
41:50Uh, why didn't you take them off?
41:54That's what I thought.
41:56You off today?
41:59Yeah, I'm off today. Right now, I got the people here from London.
42:03You know what?
42:05I'm being filmed for their YouTube channel.
42:08Say hello.
42:10Uh, hello.
42:13I was in two foster families. My last one was with the reeds.
42:17Yeah, but take brains and then you need the hands.
42:20I got the brain, I just don't got the hands.
42:23And, uh, try to put it.
42:25In your case, a couple of hands, right?
42:27Right.
42:28Uh, met my wife back in high school.
42:30You said, yeah, yeah. You know I'm working.
42:32My wife became my supporter.
42:34Hey baby, put the shorts up in the back. They falling.
42:39Girl, shut up.
42:40The man was a serious worker. He flirted with every woman he's seen.
42:44Not every woman.
42:45I told him, the only way I talked to him, he got to get straight A's on his report card.
42:49And he actually did.
42:51He said, baby, I got all A's for you.
42:53Now, just happy you to be my girl.
42:55Smile from the camera.
42:58I love her, I'm not gonna lie.
43:00We have our ups and downs, but that's any relationship.
43:03But it's about, um, fighting through everything you've been through.
43:07And looking at the brighter side.
43:09I have four kids.
43:11Two boys, two girls.
43:13Oh, look at your picture.
43:15Let me see.
43:17You gotta be here just like your dad.
43:19Oh, look at you.
43:21Oh, look at you.
43:22The thing I love the most about Joseph is his personality.
43:26And, like, if I be down and say in the funk movie, maybe he come in, he writes my day.
43:33So, it's never a dull moment with Joseph.
43:36Babe, make an appointment for me in the morning.
43:38What the fuck?
43:39Bob or something.
43:40What's wrong with you?
43:42I don't got no hands.
43:44He always act like a comedian.
43:46He always got the crack jokes.
43:47Every day.
43:48No.
43:49You didn't drop my phone.
43:53Even though he don't have his limbs, he still could do everything, you know, normal man could do.
44:00So, it really don't affect us.
44:02We live our life every day.
44:03So, you know, have fun.
44:04We live our life to the fullest.
44:06That's what we do.
44:07And, as if his story wasn't unique enough, Joseph is known for having a special ability.
44:16He could sleep anywhere.
44:18Joseph would not wake up.
44:19He'd go to sleep.
44:20It don't matter.
44:21And, I don't know how he'd do it.
44:27He always go to sleep.
44:28It don't matter what he is.
44:30Everywhere we go, he'd fall asleep in the car.
44:34And, we don't know what we at.
44:36We getting lost.
44:37He still be sleeping.
44:38Look at him.
44:39So, I'm punching him right now.
44:40Hit you there.
44:46See?
44:49Hey.
44:50Hey.
44:51What keeps me so positive is that I know I have my kids.
44:54I believe everything I went through and do until they see they have a father who is disabled.
44:59But, yet, he gets up and he works and he makes sure his family is straight.
45:03And, I know in the long run, the kids will have a chance to understand it as they get older.
45:08As I say, if my daddy can do this with no hands and legs, then I know I can do it.
45:13Me and my dad, we play games.
45:16What kind of dad is he?
45:17He a funny dad.
45:18I said, he a funny dad.
45:19I'm proud of him.
45:20Joseph's determination to create a happy home is paid off, but he also has an unexpected talent that saw him star in a music video.
45:37Come in.
45:38What's up?
45:39What up, bro?
45:40Took you long enough, dawg.
45:41What up, man?
45:42How you doing?
45:43Me and Joe know each other from a music video that was filmed last month.
45:58Featuring no, but zero, no, no, no, no, no, no.
46:02It seems unheard of to hear that a quad amputee knows how to dance.
46:09It was fun.
46:11Wasn't the best thing, experience I ever had in my life.
46:16Damien, he gave me the chance to that, but he just beat myself.
46:21It don't matter what age, what color you is, as long as you love that person, that's all that matters.
46:27That's how I feel.
46:29Love conquer all.
46:31I say the thing I want people to know that living with a condition like mine is live life to the fullest.
46:38Everything you do in life, you have a choice.
46:41Only thing we don't have a choice in life is death.
46:44We all know if you're born, we're going to have to leave one day.
46:47But it's how you leave that you can't stop, how you can define yourself.
46:52How you live your life up to that moment.
46:55If you enjoyed these inspiring stories, please let us know in the comments, like and subscribe.
47:06How you thank you for today.
47:07Hope to be here.
47:08We'll hear that.
47:09Bye.
47:10Bye.
47:11Hope to be here.
47:12Bye.
47:13Bye.
47:14Bye.
47:15Bye.
47:16Bye.
47:17Bye.
47:18Bye.
47:19Bye.
47:20Bye.
47:21Bye.
47:22Bye.
47:23Bye.
47:24Bye.
47:25Bye.