THESE incredible people have adapted to life without some or all of their limbs - and one thing that is definitely not missing from their lives is love. But having overcome so many obstacles that stood in their way to build strong, happy and lasting relationships, there are still those who seek to pull them down. So how will these limb different partners, parents and childhood sweethearts prove to the world that love really does conquer all?
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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 aí, 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 difícil,
39:06abotoar a calça, o vestir, que é mais difícil.
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 característica física.
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 vídeo,
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.