7 Extraordinary People Who Overcame Rare Disabilties

Claudio Vieira de Oliveira

Right after he was born, Claudio Vieira de Oliveira was left to starve to death by his own mother after being told by doctors that he wouldn’t survive. Born with arthrogryposis, a rare condition that fuses joints together which make them unable to move, Claudio’s head was formed upside-down on his body. Doctor’s feared he would be left totally debilitated, but he has been defying the odds ever since. He has learned to be completely self-sufficient, doing almost everything by himself—from turning on the tv, typing with a pen in his mouth, and using the phone and computer with his lips. He has never let his disability interfere with living a happy and busy life. He’s now a successful accountant and gives motivational talks regularly.

Nick Vujicic

Born without any of his limbs, Nick Vujicic struggled emotionally and physically his entire adolescence, feeling depressed and isolated. After believing lies that he was inadequate and incapable of living a good life, Nick tried to commit suicide by drowning himself in a bathtub at the young age of 10. By the age of 15, Nick turned his faith to Jesus Christ, and he gained a new hope for his life and began using his disability to help others. He became a motivational speaker, traveling around the world to touch the lives of millions. He’s had a successful career as a published author and appears on television frequently. And despite believing that he would never be a suitable husband, he found and married the love of his life, Kanae Miyahara and they have two gorgeous children together.

Abby and Brittany Hensel

The parents of conjoined twins, Abby and Brittany Hensel, worried their twins wouldn’t be capable of a quality life and considered separating them. When concern grew that only one would survive, their parents chose against it and decided to face the odds. As they grew, their parents and doctors were amazed at their ability to walk and develop other skills. Abby and Brittany have had to overcome several obstacles sharing the same body—each is responsible for controlling one side and they’ve had to learn to cooperate to take on everyday tasks. Now at the age of 25, the twins have gone on to defy the odds by getting their drivers license, getting their college degrees in education and becoming successful elementary school teachers.