~ CollectioN of ReaL StorieS ~

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Applying make-up with her foot

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Jessica even drives using only her feet

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Jessica, when she gratuated from Arizona College in 2005

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Putting her contact lense in with her foot

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Performing Tai Quan Do with her feet

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Paying for her petrol

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National Bravery Awards 2012

Om Prakash Yadav,Age 11, a Class VII student and the son of a Uttar Pradesh farmer, pulled out several of his friends alive out of a burning van, caring little about his own safety.

On September 4, 2010, Om Prakash was going to school along with other students in a Maruti van. But all of a sudden, the van caught fire because of a short circuit in the gas kit.

The driver immediately opened his door and fled. But not Om Prakash.

He broke open the van door and pulled out the others, caring little about the flames that had spread to his face, back and arms.

He saved eight children. For his bravery, he has won the Sanjay Chopra Award.

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Born with a rare genetic disorder known as Sacral Agenesis, Rose had severely deformed legs with feet pointing in opposite directions. There was no feeling in the legs and, as a child, she was in danger of harming herself. When she was two years old her mother, after consulting with the doctors at the hospital, decided that the best course of action was to have the legs amputated. This insightful decision by her mother allowed Rose to lead a fairly normal childhood.

Rose grew up, with her mentally handicapped brother, in Pueblo, Colorado. Rose believes her parents made the right choice as she cannot imagine being confined to a wheelchair. She describes her physical condition in her own way "If you take a Barbie doll and remove it's legs, the region you are left with is what I have. I have all the female working organs, the only reason I sit shorter or more compact, as people say, is because I'm missing four sections of my spinal column".

Rose's great passion in life is cars. All things automotive, cars, trucks and V-8 engines have been a big part of her life since she started playing with her father's toolbox at the age of 3. When she was sixteen, her parents bought her a car. A used car which Rose and her father adapted with hand controls so that Rose was able to drive herself around. She is rebuilding a 1968 Mustang which she plans to race.

For years, the administrators at the local school forced Rose to wear artificial legs, they wanted her to look like everybody else. When she was in eighth grade she rebelled and refused to wear her prosthetic limbs, turning up for school on her skateboard. She wanted to be normal, and her normal is Rose who walks on her hands and has no legs. After meeting with her parents who were being very supportive, and realising that Rose was very stubborn, the school relented and allowed her to return, without her prosthetics.

In 1997 Rose met Dave Siggins who worked in an auto-parts store, they flirted over the phone and their relationship quickly blossomed, but it was going to put Rose's life in danger. When they decided to get married, Dave joked with her that she didn't have to worry about getting cold feet. Rose and Dave were married in 1999, it was her dream come true. It was a traditional white wedding and Dave, still joking, pointed out that the cake was bigger than she was. Rose and Dave lead a normal sex life, the only comment Dave has made are that the legs don't get in the way.

Two years into their relationship, Rose discovered that she was pregnant. Rose's pregnancy was extraordinary and ground-breaking, no-one with Sacral Agenesis had ever given birth. The only doctor who didn't advise Rose to have an abortion was Dr. Wilson who says "This couple have committed themselves to a pregnancy and she is, basically, laying her life on the line because nobody knows what this means, no-one has lived this experience before. With the first counselling with Rose and David I was very specific and told them that they have to know that if they move forward with this that she could die." The main concerns were with her lungs being compressed, as the baby was likely to grow up the way because of her short stature. The other concern was how she would tolerate a caesarean delivery, because the baby was lying transversely she would have to be opened across the top, a true 19th century caesarean delivery. Rose told her mum that if there were any complications and there was a choice between her life and the baby's, she should choose the baby.

Having given birth to a miracle baby, Rose was about to experience a terrible tragedy. Luke had just celebrated his second birthday when Rose's mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. She held the family together, provided an emotional pillar, and organised the vital day-to-day running of the house. Her death had a disastrous effect on everyone around her. Rose's father had already had the onset of Alzheimer's and dementia so he, like her brother, didn't understand what was happening. It became apparent that Rose was next in line to run the family and do everything her mother had done. As well as looking after her son and husband, Rose now cares for her dad and brother. Rose's dad, James, has smoked all his life and now has to rely on a constant supply of oxygen. He is also suffering from schizophrenia and the onset of Alzheimer's.

Rose has great moral strength and a remarkable attitude she says "A lot of people with disabilities feel that life owes them something, and I was raised in a way that no, no-one owes you a dime. The world doesn't owe you anything, this is what you have and you use your resources and you get through life. My personal opinion is, get up and go for it, just do it."

Rose's story as a woman who has overcome bewildering obstacles and succeeded despite seemingly impossible odds is a real life example of the American dream. However, away from the limelight and behind a determined self-assurance there's another side to Rose. With the usual day-to-day problems and the added stress of Jimmy's erratic behaviour Rose is feeling the strain.

She takes refuge in the garage where she can oversee the installation of a new V-8 engine in her Mustang. At last after weeks of hard work Rose feels the Mustang is ready to hit the race track, which will be another life-long ambition achieved.

Incredibly, despite the risks involved, Rose has had a second baby..!

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This MAN is a HERO !!!!.

It's a feat most able-bodied people would struggle to achieve -
scaling one of the highest peaks on the planet.
Spencer West managed it using just his hands.
The 31-year-old, from Toronto, Canada - who lost his legs when he was
just five years old - reached the summit of the 19,341ft high Mt. Kilimanjaro
on Monday after a slow, grueling and awe-inspiring trek.




Spencer West, celebrates at the peak of Kilimanjaro on Monday, after scaling the tallest
mountain in Africa, on his hands.

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Because of the rough terrain, Mr West had to complete most of the seven-day trek on his hands,
only using a wheelchair when the ground allowed
Mr West was born with sacral agenesis, a genetic disorder that left his lower
spine poorly developed and his legs permanently crossed.
He had his legs removed below the knees at the age of three and, two-years-later,
had them amputated to below his pelvis.
Medical experts told the courageous Canadian he would never be a functioning
member of society but he has continued to defy doctors his entire life.
He trained for a year to scale the tallest peak in Africa without legs and set off
on June 12 with best friends David Johnson and Alex Meers.
The trek to the top took seven days, hiking through Tanzania's jungles,
snowfields and deserts - and Mr West was forced to make 80 per cent of the journey
on his hands, only hopping in a custom-made wheelchair when the terrain allowed.
The trio made it to the final approach on Sunday and rose the following morning
for the ascent to Uhuru Peak.
They reached the top at 11.15am after a exhausting seven hour hike.

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He was supported the whole way by best friend David Johnson and Alex Meers.

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Mr West's hands were left bloodied and bruised after the trek, but insists the pain and
discomfort were 'worth it'
Only 50 per cent of people who attempt to scale the mountain make it to the top - and
Mr West described the moment he reached the summit as 'incredible'.
He said: 'The summit sign seemed almost like a mirage.
'We looked around and realised that, after seven grueling days of relentless climbing,
after 20,000 feet of our blood, sweat, tears and vomit we had actually made it.
'The bleeding fingers and blisters were all worth it.'
He added: 'I set out to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro not only to redefine what's
possible for me, but to inspire others to overcome obstacles and challenges
of their own, and to give back to communities, that need our help.
'Reaching the peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro was the most mentally and physically
challenging thing I have ever done, but in doing so, it reinforced the powerful
message behind believing in yourself, and believing in others.
'So many people made this journey possible for me and I am so humbled
by everyone's support.'
His incredible feat has raised more than £300,000 for Free The Children,
a charity which brings sustainable to thousands of Kenyans experiencing drought.

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When he was a child doctors told Mr West he would struggle
to play a role in society.
Something he has remained determined to prove wrong.

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Porters carry Spencer West's wheelchair up Kilimanjaro, so he can use it when the terrain allows
him to give his battered hands a break.

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Mr West slipped a pair of flip-flops on his hands to help him negotiate the rocky terrain
during his hike up the mountain, which looms in the background.