Two inspirational women Jlissa and Chassidy who are missing limbs have become best friends through their comparable hardship – and it’s all thanks to Barcroft TV.
Jlissa Austin, 31, stands at 3’4” and was born without arms, knees and with only seven toes. Chassidy Young, 32, she was born with a rare congenital disorder that has left her without hands and with very short legs.
Both women filmed documentaries for Barcroft TV’s ‘Born Different’ series earlier this year, and after watching each other’s life story, they have since become best friends through their very rare similarities.
With their friendship going from strength to strength, they have met in person for the very first time with Chassidy travelling across state from her home in Dallas Texas, to Jlissa who lives in Houston. Neither of them had ever met anyone like themselves before and Barcroft TV was there to capture the emotional moment on camera.
Different, like many others
When you don’t see people like you it feels’s like you’re the only person in the world that’s like that, and that’s why Jlissa thought she was the only one she hears with that condition until she found her new friend Chassity, Jlissa said (laughing) : « I can’t be the only person on this whole earth missing arms, where are the others !! ». Certainly both of them have family, friends, but they really miss moments where they need somebody like them because they have their own struggles that they can not identify with.
Don’t miss my ability
because of this condition, people think that Jlissa and Chassidy daily life is painful, most questions they get are basically how do you eat, how do you write, who take you to the circus show, how do you bathe, who do your hairs, who puts on your makeup… in fact their condition has affected nothing in their life, contrary, it allowed them to be more courageous and responsible, and able to do things without asking anyone for help.
In additional, Jlissa don’t consider her condition as disability, because a disability by terms its something that restricts you from doing something else, it’s restricts you from getting from A to B and I’ve made it ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP ……. Overall, both women were able to write, feed themselves, to take themselves to restroom, bathe themselves ….
The power to impact people’s life
Nevertheless, a man (Nick Vujicic) living without members gives us real hope, this Australian man is born with tetra-amelia syndrome, yet he inspires millions of people every day. Nick has not only been able to form a successful family life, but he has also written books that remind us that nothing is impossible, and that we are imposing obstacles on ourselves. To this day, Vujicic is a life coach, travelling the world offering his guidance and sharing his story with people and helping them to find their way into life.
But what is Amelia syndrome ??
Jlissa and Chassidy are among very few people in the world affected by Tetra-amelia syndrome, which is a malformation rare congenital characterized by complete agenesis four members. It can be isolated or associated with other malformations. The diagnosis is established clinically at birth, by the examination of the child and the anamnesis. Most fetuses with this syndrome die before or shortly after birth because of the presence of associated malformations. The care of survivors is multidisciplinary and the constant moral support of the parents is necessary. Fate and prognosis remain a curiosity. Nevertheless, a man (Nick Vujicic) living without members gives us real hope, this Australian man is born with tetra-amelia syndrome, yet he inspires millions of people every day. Nick has not only been able to form a successful family life, but he has also written books that remind us that nothing is impossible, and that we are imposing obstacles on ourselves. To this day, Vujicic is a life coach, travelling the world offering his guidance and sharing his story with people and helping them to find their way into life.
