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A 25-year-old Colombian woman with no limbs has overcome a painful past that included rape, bullying and attempted suicide to become an inspiration to others.
“I don’t have any arms or legs, but I won’t let that hold me back,” said Zuly Sanguino, who was born with Tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare genetic condition that prevents the limbs from developing properly in the womb, Barcroft Media reported.
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“I don’t have any arms or legs, but I won’t let that hold me back,” said Zuly Sanguino, who was born with Tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare genetic condition that prevents the limbs from developing properly in the womb, Barcroft Media reported.
“I was called an alien and it really hurt me. I went through some dark times and even contemplated suicide. But my friends and family pulled me through and now I give motivational talks at businesses, prisons and schools,” the Bogota woman said.
Her mom, Guillermina, 57, overcame her initial shock to help her daughter — whose five siblings do not have the condition to lead an independent life.
But things were tough at school.“At first people would carry me everywhere or I’d roll, but eventually I managed to stand up on my own and tried to walk by propping myself up with my stumps,” said Zuly, whose dad committed suicide when she was 2.
“I started to realize I was different from other children aged 6. Suddenly I noticed they could run and I couldn’t. I asked Mom why I was different. She told me I was no more different than anybody else and my disability didn’t have to hold me back,” she said.But she was soon a target for ruthless bullies.
“Children called me ‘alien’ and hit me,” she said. “Sometimes they’d take my snacks. It was horrible. I left school when I was 6 and joined another school.”At age 15, she contemplated suicide.
Her turnaround began when she attended art school when she was 18.“I climbed up to the fourth (floor) of our building and was going to jump. Thankfully, Mom came and found me just before I did. She was so upset things had got so bad. She hugged me and told me everything would be all right. She told me I would go on to shine and show other people you can live a normal, happy life with a disability.”
“I realized I’d spent too long letting my disability get me down and I had so much to live for. Gradually, with Mom’s support, I began to feel more positive and got involved with a local church, where the pastor asked me if I would like to join him on community visits as an inspirational speaker.”
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