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Dreamchaser214
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Meet Jessica Cox, the first and only pilot to earn a license to fly with no arms. Jessica earned a license to fly airplanes on October 10, 2008. She also has two black belts in Tae Kwan-Do, a college degree in Psychology, and a thriving career as a motivational speaker.
Ms. Cox was born with bilateral congenital limb deficiency but she did not let it to stop her from achieving and surpassing her goals. Since birth onwards, her feet became her hands. She can even play the piano, swim, drive a car, type 25 words per minute, and put on her contact lenses without any special adaptations.
The second daughter of a retired American music teacher and a Filipina nurse from Samar province, Jessica Cox holds the distinction of being the first woman pilot in aviation history to fly with her feet. Jessica earned her Sport Pilot certificate after training with Able Flight, a North Carolina flight training company that specializes in helping people with disabilities learn to fly. Ms. Cox won an Able Flight scholarship and was able to train with instructor Parrish Traweek free of charge.
Jessica Cox is recognized around the world as an inspirational keynote speaker. She has been featured in the popular afternoon program Ellen, hosted by Ellen Degeneres, Inside Edition, and TV networks like CNN and Fox News.
Watch her FLY:
"I highly encourage people with disabilities to consider flying. It helps reverse the stereotype that people with disabilities are powerless into the belief that they are powerful and capable of setting high goals and achieving them."
- Jessica Cox
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Dreamchaser214
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Think you've got it bad and need to be encouraged? Fallen down and can't get up? YES YOU CAN! Check this out...
The world is filled with inspirational people. It is good to know that there are people like them who are here to influence and show to millions that every person can do GREAT things no matter who you are and whatever flaws you have. Sometimes we do not need to look any further than within our own circle of family and friends. At other times, we are inspired by those we know only in name.
This is a story of a man who did not let his disability hinder him to experience life to the fullest and to come forward and share his story of hope in order to encourage, inspire, and help people achieve their goals and take charge of their lives...
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Nick Vujicic (born December 4, 1982) is a preacher, a motivational speaker and the director of Life Without Limbs, an organization for the physically disabled. He regularly gives speeches across subject of disability and hope.
He was born in Melbourne, Australia with the rare Tetra-amelia disorder: limbless, missing both arms at shoulder level, and legless but with two small feet, one of which has two toes protruding from his left thigh. Initially, his parents were devastated. Vujicic was otherwise healthy. Despite the absence of limbs, he is doing surf and swimming, and playing golf and soccer.
Growing up
His life was filled with difficulties and hardships. One was being prohibited by Australian law from attending a mainstream school because of his physical disability, even though he was not mentally impaired. During his schooling, the laws were changed, and Nick was one of the first disabled students to be integrated into a mainstream school. He learned to write using the two toes on his left "foot", and a special device that slid onto his big toe which he uses grip. He also learned to use a computer and type using the "heel and toe" method (as demonstrated in his speeches), throw tennis balls, answer the phone, shave and get himself a glass of water (also demonstrated in speeches).
Epiphany
Being bullied at his school, Nick grew extremely depressed, and by the age of 10, started contemplating suicide. After begging God to grow arms and legs, Nick eventually began to realize that his accomplishments were inspirational to many, and began to thank God for being alive. A key turning point in his life was when his mother showed him a newspaper article about a man dealing with a severe disability. This led him to realize he wasn't the only one with major struggles. When he was seventeen, he started to give talks at his prayer group, and eventually started his non-profit organization, Life Without Limbs.An inspirational movie was created around Nick Vujicic called "The Butterfly Circus".
Source: Wikipedia.org
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How many people can say that they are happy? Can you?
(Watch how Nick inspires people and see if he can inspire you too...)
"If I fail a hundred times, if I fail and I give up, do you think that i'm never gonna get up? NO. But, if i fail and try again, and again, and again... What I just want you to know
is that it's not the end. What matter is how you're gonna finish? Are you gonna finish strong?
...And you will find that strength to get back up."
- Nick Vujicic
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