Speaker Discusses Life Without Limbs In Dallas
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Nick Vujicic, 27, spends many of his days and nights traveling the world sharing his story.
Vujicic, the son of an Australian pastor, was born with no arms or legs. He said the sight initially horrified his family.
"Initially when my parents saw me they were very distraught. It was a tragedy for the pastor's son being born the way that he is and the church mourned as if someone had died," Vujicic said.
But, day-by-day, his parents learned to cope with the unique gift from God despite no concrete medical explanation for his condition.
His parents may have coped, but Vujicic said his road to acceptance was a little harder, particularly because he was among the first special needs students in Brisbane to integrate into regular school.
"I didn't think I was different until people teased me and put me down," Vujicic said.
Vujicic said it even led him to ponder suicide at a very young age.
"At age eight I told my mom I was gonna do it and I actually tried at age 10," he said.
He said he attempted to drown himself in the bathtub but eventually realized he couldn't, and wouldn't, put his family through the grief and guilt of his death. Instead, he accepted his position in life.
"If you don't get a miracle, you can be a miracle for someone else," said Vujicic.
On his website, he shows off his talents: Brushing his hair, shaving, surfing, typing.
"I can type 43 words a minute on a regular keyboard," said Vujicic.
All these skills are aided by his tiny foot.
He even took CBS 11 crews out to the golf course to show his impressive putting skills on the green. He sunk one after just a handful of attempts.
"You never know what you can do until you try it," Vujicic said.
Vujicic said he now lives in California because there are so many requests to hear him speak in the United States.
He was in Dallas Tuesday night, speaking to a packed crowd at Watermark Community Church.
"Doctors had no idea what kind of future I would have and the last thing anybody thought was that this kid with no arms and no legs would around travel the world and give love and bring a message of hope and truth," Vujicic said.
He said he encourages people who might question their self-worth to "get a second opinion."
