Having been born without arms and legs, Nick Vujicic proved that even in this situation one can enjoy life and not blame others for one’s problems. Today he is a successful motivational speaker, preacher and happy husband and father.
Do you have complexes about freckles, an unslim figure, hairstyle or an overly large nose? So you don't know who Nick Vujicic is. This strong man, born without legs and arms, at almost 40 years old he can skateboard, surf, use a computer and write books. It is enough to see the photo to understand that it is not in vain that he teaches people to be strong, to live and enjoy what is happening. His life has everything: family happiness, love and his favorite business.
Terrible diagnosis
The famous Australian motivational speaker, philanthropist, writer and singer was born into the family of Serbian emigrants Boris and Duska Vujicic. From birth, the child received a genetic pathology called tetra-amelia.
Tetra-amelia syndrome (autosomal recessive tetra-amelia) is a rare congenital disease that is inherited. Characterized by the absence of four limbs. Other organs of the body are subject to cumulative deviations in normal development. The diagnosis of the disease is associated with a mutation of the WNT3 gene (Wikipedia).
The child born into the family of a preacher did not have full arms and legs. His body had an element resembling a foot with fused toes. After surgery and separation of the membrane of skin between his fingers, the boy was able to not only move, write, and work on a computer, but also mastered several sports:
- Surfing.
- Swimming.
- Skateboard.
Childhood and youth
Figure 1. ChildhoodThe child attended primary school in a special school for the disabled. However, on the initiative of his parents, he was transferred to a regular one. An attempt to use prosthetic body parts did not bring success - they turned out to be too heavy. Around this period, the boy underwent surgery, which revealed his uncontrollable character and great desire for life.
After finishing school, Nicholas Vujicic entered Brisbane Griffith University, after graduating from which he continued his undergraduate studies. Already at the age of 21, the guy became a Bachelor of Commerce in the field of accounting and financial management.
Death or full life: a fateful choice
According to Nick himself, most important event, which happened in his biography, happened at the age of ten. One evening the boy asked his mother to fill the bathtub for him to wash himself. Once in the water, the child asked Dushka to leave him to lie down. Nick, full of despair, decided to use this moment to take his own life.
“I tried to turn my face into the water, but it was hard to stay in that position. Nothing worked for me. But for a short time I very clearly imagined the picture of my funeral - here are my dad and mom... And then I realized that I couldn’t hurt them, I couldn’t kill myself. After all, all I saw from my parents was great love for me.”
From that moment on, his story incredible life transformed and became confirmation that a person without arms and legs can achieve incredible, amazing heights that are inaccessible to some full-fledged men.
First confessions
Figure 2. The main thing is that he likes what he does Faith in God, a strong will to live, a unique mindset became the reason that even at school Nick Vujicic realized that if he was able to learn everything he could, then such results were also possible for other people who found themselves in difficult situations. life situation. So, at the age of 17, the guy gave his first motivational speech.
The success gained after the first performance with a short story his life story, became the reason for the subsequent meeting. Thus, Nick Vujicic began his “preaching” activities, which led to the opening of the non-profit organization “Life without Limbs”, aimed at charity and rehabilitation of disabled people around the world.
Charitable organization "Life without limbs"
The main motto charitable organization Nick Vujicich’s “Life without limbs” is the phrase that people who are different in body structure are normal. As an example, he gives a story from his childhood, retelling the words his mother said to him at the age of ten: “You should play with normal children, because you are normal. Yes, you are missing something, but it’s nothing.”
Also one of the key principles of its happy life Nick Vujicic names several of the following conditions as motivation for new members of the organization:
- Sincerity.
- Interest.
- Desire to help.
According to Nicholas, it is in these principles, confirmed by actions, that the strength of human existence now lies.
Regarding pity, it is expressed in the following words: “A useless feeling that sows helplessness around. A person needs to be loved, not pitied. Pity makes us victims, we begin to think like a victim. Everyone around becomes guilty, everyone around should... Subsequently, such a person will grow into an irresponsible coward. Pity humiliates.”
Books by Nick Vujicic
Figure 3. Presentation of the book in Russia Nick Vujicic's first book was published in 2010, it was called “Life without Limbs.” The entire bibliography of this unique and, as he calls himself - happy person, has 5 works:
- “Life Without Borders: The Path to an Amazingly Happy Life” (2010).
- “Unstoppable. The incredible power of faith in action" (2013).
- "Stay strong. You can overcome violence" (2014).
- "Love without borders. The path to amazingly strong love" (2015).
- “Limitless. 50 Lessons That Will Make You Outrageously Happy" (2016).
Personal life
Figure 4. Nick Vujicic's family Nick spoke about his future soulmate in these words: “I understand that I don’t have the hands to hold my wife’s hand, but when the time comes, I will be able to hold her heart!”
He turned out to be right: after moving to the USA, Nick met a girl, Kanae Miyahara. In February 2012, they got married, and exactly a year later, the wife gave birth to their eldest son, Kiyoshi James Vujicic.
After 2 years, another son was born, named Deyan Levi, and on December 20, 2017, Kanae gave birth to twins - twin girls Olivia and Ellie. All children are healthy and have no physiological or other abnormalities.
An example worthy of emulation
Figure 5. B free time Nick loves to play golf Nick overcame a colossal number of barriers and obstacles, starting with relationships with classmates and ending with his own psychological preparation. Today, those whom he invites to his performances are not at all associated with him by any physiological defect. Many listeners are quite healthy people who want to see this unique American (Nick accepted American citizenship and lives there today with his family) and learn from his story something that can motivate them to personal or other changes.
Regarding how he himself feels about his disability, one can answer a brief retelling excerpt from one of his autobiographical works. It contains lines that explain this essence.
Nick Vujicic accepted his essence as a disabled person, won a psychological victory, and now he laughs in her face, showing various “tricks” from the stage that many healthy people cannot repeat. He meets every challenge of fate and new life difficulties with his inherent sense of humor, inspiring with his perseverance and faith all those who are nearby.
Such a desire to overcome obstacles and love for life, manifested in his image, can challenge any person, directing him on the path to realizing his greatest dreams. cherished desires and goals. Statistics show that it is enough to see and hear his speech once, how your attitude towards life will change and your life values will be reassessed.
It looks like a myth, a beautiful, instructive, but unreal story. Think about it, a boy born without legs and arms is, by the age of 31, a world-famous motivational speaker, a happy husband and father. Nick Vujicic has traveled halfway around the world. He performed at the stadium, and 110 thousand people listened to him. Is it possible?
Happens. If you perform a small feat every day. We will tell you about 12 exploits of Nick Vujicic, thanks to which one can read in his sincere smile: “I am happy.”
Birth
One of the best ways To get rid of the pain of the past is to replace it with gratitude.
December 4, 1982. Duska Vujicic is giving birth. The first child is about to be born. The husband, Boris Vujicic, is present at the birth.
A shoulder appeared. Boris turned pale and left the family room. After some time, a doctor approached him.
“Doctor, my son doesn’t have an arm?” – asked Boris. "No. Your son has neither arms nor legs,” the doctor answered.
Nicholas's parents (as the newborn was named) knew nothing about Tetra-Amelia syndrome. They didn't know how to handle a baby without arms and legs. The mother did not put her son to her breast for 4 months.
Gradually, Nick’s parents got used to accepting and loving their son for who he is.
Childhood
Failure is the path to mastery.
Ham. That's what Nick nicknamed the only limb on his body. A resemblance to a foot with two fused toes, subsequently separated surgically.
But Nick thinks that his “ham” is not so bad. He learned to use it to write, type (43 words per minute), drive an electric wheelchair, and push off on a skateboard.
Not everything worked out right away. But when the time came, Nick went to a regular school, along with his healthy peers.
Despair
When you feel like giving up on your dream, force yourself to work one more day, one more week, one more month, and one more year. You will be amazed at what will happen if you don't give up.
“You don’t know how to do anything!”, “We don’t want to be friends with you!”, “You’re nobody!” – Nick heard these words every day at school.
The focus shifted: he was no longer proud of what he had learned; he's fixated on something he can never do. Hug your wife, hold your child...
One day Nick asked his mother to take him to the bathroom. Driven by the thought “Why me?” the boy tried to drown himself.
“They didn’t deserve this” - 10-year-old Nick realized that he could not do this to his parents, who loved him very much. Suicide is dishonest. Unfair towards loved ones.
Self-identification
Other people's words and actions cannot define your personality.
"What happened to you?!" – until Nick became world famous, this was the most frequently asked question to him.
Seeing a man without arms and legs, people cannot hide their shock. Sidelong glances, whispers behind his back, grins - Nick responds to everything with a smile. “It’s all because of cigarettes,” he says to those who are especially impressionable. And he makes fun of the children: “I just didn’t clean my room...”.
Humor
Laugh as much as possible. There are days in the life of any person when troubles and hardships pour in as if from a cornucopia. Don't curse trials. Be grateful to life for giving you the opportunity to learn and develop. A sense of humor will help with this.
Nick is a big joker. There are no arms or legs - life has played a trick on him, so why not laugh at it?
One day, Nick dressed up as a pilot and, with the permission of the airline, greeted passengers at the gate with the words: “Today we are experiencing new technology control the plane... and I am your pilot."
People who personally know Nick Vucic say that he has an excellent sense of humor. And this quality, as we know, excludes self-pity.
Talent
If you are deeply unhappy, then you are not living your life. Your talents are being misused.
Nick Vujicic has two higher education: accounting and financial planning. He is a successful motivational speaker and businessman. But his main talent is the ability to persuade. Including through art.
Nick’s first book is called “Life Without Limits: Inspiration for an Absurdly Good Life” (translated into 30 languages, published in Russian in 2012). In 2009, he played the main role in the short film “Butterfly Circus” (IMDb rating – 8.10). A story about finding the meaning of life.
Sport
It is impossible to argue with the fact that madness is genius: anyone who is willing to take risks appears in the eyes of others as either a madman or a genius.
“Crazy” - many people think when they watch Nick looking for a wave while surfing or jumping with a parachute.
“I realized that physical dissimilarity limits me only to the extent that I limit myself,” Vujicic once admitted and did not limit himself in anything.
Nick plays football, tennis, and swims well.
Motivation
Think of your attitude towards the world as a remote control. If you don't like the program you're watching, you simply grab the remote control and switch the TV to another program. It's the same with your attitude to life: when you're unhappy with the result, change your approach, no matter what problem you're facing.
At the age of 19, Nick was asked to speak to students at the university where he studied (Griffith University). Nicholas agreed: he came out and briefly told about himself. Many people in the audience cried, and one girl got up on stage and hugged him.
The young man understood that oratory was his calling.
Nick Vujicic traveled to 45 countries, met with 7 presidents, and spoke in front of thousands of spectators. Every day he receives dozens of requests for interviews and invitations to give a speech. Why do people want to listen to him?
Because his speeches do not boil down to the banal: “Are you having problems? Look at me – no arms, no legs, that’s who has problems!”
Nick understands that suffering cannot be compared, everyone has their own pain, and does not try to cheer people up, saying, “compared to me, everything is not so bad for you.” He just talks to them.
Embrace
I don’t have hands, and when you hug, you press right into their hearts. It's amazing!
Nick admits that since he was born without arms, he never missed them. The only thing he lacks is a handshake. He cannot shake hands with anyone.
But he found a way out. Nick hugs people... with his heart. Once Vujicic even organized a marathon of hugs - 1,749 people hugged with their hearts per day.
Love
If you are open to love, love will come. If you surround your heart with a wall, there will be no love.
They met on April 11, 2010. The beautiful Kanae Miyahara has a boyfriend, Nick has no arms or legs. It's not love at first sight. It's just love. Real, deep.
On February 12, 2012, Nick and Kanae got married. Everything is as it should be: White dress, tuxedo and Honeymoon in Hawaii.
Family
It's impossible to live life to the fullest, if your every decision is determined by fear. Fear will keep you from moving forward and prevent you from becoming what you want. But this is just a mood, a feeling. Fear is not real!
Tetra-Amelia syndrome is hereditary. Nick wasn't afraid.
Hope
Everything good in life begins with hope.
Nick Vujicic is a man without arms and legs. Nick Vujicic is a man who believes in miracles. There is a pair of boots in his linen closet. So... just in case. After all, in life there is always room for something more.
Truly one of the most amazing personalities modern society you can name the Australian Nicholas James Vujicic. Deprived of arms and legs, he leads an active lifestyle, writes books and reads sermons that help thousands of people accept their shortcomings, raises his own and adopted children with his wife, and is sincerely happy.
Some people admire Nick Vujicic, others are indignant about his publicly displayed public activities. But it is definitely impossible to remain indifferent to his extraordinary biography.
Birth and illness
December 4, 1982, Melbourne. In the family of Serbian emigrants Vujicic - nurse Duska and pastor Boris - appeared long-awaited firstborn. The anticipation of joy from the expected event gave way to shock and stupor. The new parents, and the entire hospital staff, were confused by what they saw - the baby was born without arms and legs, although during the pregnancy the ultrasound did not show any deviations from the norm.
Pity and fear - a mixture of exactly these feelings was experienced by parents in the first months of their son’s life. A sea of shed tears and endless questions tormented them day and night for several months, until one day they made a decision - to live, just live, not look into the distant future, solve the assigned tasks in small steps and rejoice in what fate has given their family.
early years
Nicholas grew up in a devout family. Every morning and evening for him was marked by prayer to the Almighty. It’s not difficult to guess what a little boy could ask for in his situation.
When a child regularly asks for something, in the depths of his soul he hopes to receive it equally or later. But, alas, arms and legs will not grow from prayers. Faith was gradually replaced by oppressive disappointment, which over time grew into severe depression.
At the age of 10, the one whom millions of healthy, prosperous people will want to imitate in the future firmly decides to commit suicide... Then Nick was saved from a terrible step by love, yes, yes, it was precisely this notorious feeling. Lying in a bathtub filled to the brim with water, he saw his parents bending over his grave as if in reality. There was love in their eyes, mixed with pain from loss.
Refusing suicide did not save the teenager from suffering, but it instilled in him the realization that even with congenital tetra-amelia syndrome, one can live a full life. Nick began to intensively train his only limb - a tiny semblance of a foot.
At first, Nick attended a specialized school for the disabled, but when the law on disabled people changed in Australia in the early 90s, he insisted on going to a regular school on the same basis as ordinary children. Needless to say, cruel children bullied and hated their peers, who were so different from them. Nick found solace in weekly Sunday trips to church school.
Later, Brisbane's Griffin University will gladly accept a guy who has already matured and gained worldly wisdom into the ranks of its students. During this time Nick suffered surgical intervention and received the likeness of fingers on the appendage he had in place of his left leg. Thanks to his fortitude, he learned to use them to work on a computer, fish, play football, surf and skateboard, and take care of himself in everyday life and even move around.
The way forward
Nick Vujicic received two higher educations - he has a bachelor's degree in finance and accounting. However, this high merit did not give him personal respite: Nick, seemingly fragile and helpless, continued to improve himself.
In the end, Nick Vujicic found his purpose in life. If earlier he was sure that God had deprived him of his mercy, then later the awareness of the significance of his own illness elevated him above the rest. It was thanks to his external inferiority that he was able to show contrasting strength and fortitude.
Since 1999, he has been conducting preaching activities, which today represent unprecedented work in terms of geographical breadth and power of psychological impact.
As Nick himself claims, hundreds of thousands of roads are open to him, and the world is filled with people, and each of them has their own difficulties. He, as a messenger of goodwill, has something to tell them.
Schools, universities, prisons, orphanages, churches - this is where Vujicic began his work, which he now succinctly defines as “motivational speaking.”
The disabled person gained universal fame through his participation in talk shows and programs, and the organization of motivational meetings. At one of the first rallies, people lined up to hug the man who had helped them so much. Subsequently, this grew into a pleasant tradition.
"Butterfly Circus", a 2009 short film in leading role with our hero, gained well-deserved fame and received a $100 thousand award as part of the Dorpost Film Project charity project. In a couple of years, Nick will write and perform the song “Something More,” followed by a video adaptation, in the middle of which the author will make a personal confession.
In 2010, Nick Vujicic’s first and most famous book, “Life without Borders: The Path to an Amazingly Happy Life,” was published. On its pages, Nick spoke frankly about his life, hardships and difficulties and his experience of overcoming them. The book became a bestseller and forced hundreds of thousands of readers to reconsider their attitude towards life and become happy.
The following works were devoted to the same theme: “Unstoppable”, “Be Strong”, “Love Without Borders”, “Boundlessness”. Translated into several languages of the world, they are not just psychological reading material, they allow you to see solutions even through the prism of deep despair.
Nick Vujicic has charitable foundation, which launched a campaign on a global scale. For his significant contribution to the development of humanity, he was awarded many awards - from his native Australia (“Young Australian of the Year”) to Russia (“Golden Diploma”).
Personal life of Nick Vujicic. Family and Children
It may seem that if a person can come to terms with such serious physical disabilities, then others will never accept them. But the most a famous person without arms and legs he lives a more than full life. He has a beautiful wife and absolutely healthy children.
Vujicic dated his first and only love, Kanae Miyahara, for about four years before proposing to her. A girl from a poor Japanese-Mexican family shared Christian views Nika for life and was admired by his fortitude, kindness and dedication.
On February 12, 2012, the couple got married, and 2013 and 2015 gave the spouses two successors to the family - Kiyoshi James and Dejan Levi.
A little later on family council it was decided to give a family to disadvantaged children - so three orphans found a father and mother in Nick and Kanae.
Nick Vujicic now
There is no clear definition for the Nick Vujicic phenomenon. He is a unique person who has made all dreams come true. This is the man who could. He deserves to be a role model.
Nick Vujicic continues to write books and devotes a lot of time to developing the Life Without Limbs foundation. The organization helps those who, like Nick, have congenital tetra-amelia syndrome, and those who have lost arms and legs due to accident or illness.
This was their long-awaited firstborn. The father was in labor. He saw the baby's shoulder - what is it? No hand. Boris Vuychich realized that he had to leave the room immediately so that his wife would not have time to notice how his face had changed. He couldn't believe what he saw.
When the doctor came out to him, he began to say:
"My son! Doesn't he have a hand?
The doctor replied:
“No... Your son has neither arms nor legs.”
Doctors refused to show the baby to the mother. The nurses were crying.
Why?
Nicholas Vujicic was born in Melbourne, Australia, into a family of Serbian emigrants. Mother is a nurse. Father is a pastor. The whole parish lamented: “Why did the Lord allow this to happen?” The pregnancy proceeded normally, everything was fine with heredity.
At first, the mother could not bring herself to take her son in her arms and could not breastfeed him. “I had no idea how I would take the child home, what to do with him, how to take care of him,” recalls Duska Vuivich. – I didn’t know who to contact with my questions. Even the doctors were at a loss. Only after four months did I begin to come to my senses. My husband and I began to solve problems without looking too far ahead. One after another."
Nick has a semblance of a foot instead of a left leg. Thanks to this, the boy learned to walk, swim, skateboard, play on the computer and write. The parents managed to get their son into a regular school. Nick became the first disabled child in a regular Australian school.
“This meant that teachers were giving me a lot of attention,” Nick recalls. - On the other hand, although I had two friends, most often I heard from my peers: “Nick, go away!”, “Nick, you don’t know how to do anything!”, “We don’t want to be friends with you!”, “You’re nobody.” !
Drown yourself
Every evening Nick prayed to God and asked him: “God, give me arms and legs!” He cried and hoped that when he woke up in the morning, arms and legs would already appear. Mom and dad bought him electronic hands. But they were too heavy, and the boy was never able to use them.
On Sundays he went to church school. They taught there that the Lord loves everyone. Nick didn’t understand how this could be - why then God didn’t give him what everyone else has. Sometimes adults came up and said: “Nick, everything will be fine!” But he didn’t believe them - no one could explain to him why he was like this, and no one could help him, not even God. At the age of eight, Nicholas decided to drown himself in the bathtub. He asked his mother to take him there.
“I turned my face into the water, but it was very difficult to hold on. Nothing worked. During this time, I imagined a picture of my funeral - my dad and mom were standing there... And then I realized that I couldn’t kill myself. All I saw from my parents was love for me.”
Change your heart
Nick never tried to commit suicide again, but he kept thinking why he should live.
He won't be able to work, he won't be able to hold his fiancée's hand, he won't be able to hold his child when he cries. One day, Nick’s mother read an article about a seriously ill man who inspired others to live.
Mom said: “Nick, God needs you. I do not know how. I do not know when. But you can serve Him.”
At the age of fifteen, Nick opened the Gospel and read the parable of the blind man. The disciples asked Christ why this man was blind. Christ answered: “So that the works of God may be revealed in him.” Nick says that at that moment he stopped being angry at God.
“Then I realized that I am not just a man without arms and legs. I am God's creation. God knows what He is doing and why. “It doesn’t matter what people think,” Nick says now. - God did not answer my prayers. This means that He wants to change my heart more than the circumstances of my life. Probably, even if I suddenly had arms and legs, it would not calm me down so much. Arms and legs on their own.”
Nick Vujicic with famous Christian surfer Bethany Hamilton, whose hand was bitten off by a shark at age 13 (Here is her story)
At nineteen, Nick studied financial planning at university. One day he was asked to speak to students. Seven minutes were allotted for the speech. Within three minutes the girls in the hall were crying. One of them could not stop sobbing, she raised her hand and asked: “Can I come up on stage and hug you?” The girl approached Nick and began to cry on his shoulder. She said: “No one ever told me they loved me, no one ever told me I was beautiful just the way I am. My life changed today."
Nick came home and announced to his parents that he knew what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. The first thing my father asked was: “Are you thinking of finishing university?” Then other questions arose:
— Will you travel alone?
- And with whom?
- Don't know.
-What are you going to talk about?
- Don't know.
- Who will listen to you?
- Don't know.
A hundred attempts to get up
Ten months a year he is on the road, two months at home. He traveled to more than two dozen countries, more than three million people heard him - in schools, nursing homes, and prisons. It happens that Nick speaks in stadiums with thousands of seats. He performs about 250 times a year. Nick receives about three hundred offers for new performances a week. He became a professional speaker.
Before the start of the performance, an assistant carries Nick onto the stage and helps him sit on some raised platform so that he can be seen. Then Nick tells episodes from his everyday life. About how people still stare at him on the streets. About the fact that when children run up and ask: “What happened to you?!” He answers in a hoarse voice: “It’s all because of cigarettes!”
And to those who are younger, he says: “I didn’t clean my room.” He calls what is in place of his legs a “ham.” Nick says his dog likes to bite him. And then he begins to beat out a fashionable rhythm with his ham.
After that he says: “And to be honest, sometimes you can fall like this.” Nick falls face first into the table he was standing on.
And he continues:
“It happens in life that you fall, and it seems you have no strength to get up. You wonder then if you have hope... I have neither arms nor legs! It seems that if I try to get up even a hundred times, I won’t be able to. But after another defeat, I don’t give up hope. I will try again and again. I want you to know that failure is not the end. The main thing is how you finish. Are you going to finish strong? Then you will find the strength to rise up - in this way.”
He leans his forehead, then helps himself with his shoulders and stands up.
The women in the audience begin to cry.
And Nick begins to talk about gratitude to God.
I'm not saving anyone
—Are people touched and comforted because they see that someone is having a harder time than they are?
“Sometimes they tell me: “No, no! I can’t imagine myself without arms and legs!” But it is impossible to compare suffering, and it is not necessary. What can I say to someone whose loved one is dying of cancer or whose parents are divorced? I don't understand their pain.
One day a twenty-year-old woman approached me. She was kidnapped when she was ten years old, enslaved and abused. During this time, she had two children, one of them died. Now she has AIDS. Her parents don't want to communicate with her. What can she hope for? She said that if she had not believed in God, she would have committed suicide. Now she talks about her faith with other AIDS patients so they can hear her.
Last year I met people who had a son without arms and legs. The doctors said: “He will be a plant for the rest of his life. He won’t be able to walk, he won’t be able to study, he won’t be able to do anything.” And suddenly they found out about me and met me in person - another person like him. And they had hope. It is important for everyone to know that they are not alone and that they are loved.
- Why did you believe in God?
“I couldn’t find anything else that would give me peace.” Through the word of God, I learned the truth about the purpose of my life - about who I am, why I live, and where I will go when I die. Without faith, nothing made sense.
There is a lot of pain in this life, so there must be absolute Truth, absolute Hope, which is above all circumstances. My hope is in heaven. If you associate your happiness with temporary things, it will be temporary.
I can tell you many times when teenagers came up to me and said: “Today I looked in the mirror with a knife in my hand. This was supposed to be the last day of my life. You saved me".
A woman came up to me one day and said, “Today is my daughter’s second birthday. Two years ago she listened to you and you saved her life.” But I can’t save myself either! Only God can. What I have is not Nick's achievements. If it were not for God, I would not be here with you and would no longer exist in the world. I couldn't handle my trials on my own. And I thank God that my example inspires people.
— What can inspire you, besides faith and family?
- A friend's smile.
Once I was told that a terminally ill guy wanted to see me. He was eighteen years old. He was already very weak and could not move at all. I entered his room for the first time. And he smiled. It was a precious smile. I told him that I don’t know how I would feel in his place, that he is my hero.
We saw each other several more times. I asked him one day: “What would you like to say to all people?” He said, "What do you mean?" I replied: “If only there was a camera here.” And every person in the world could see you. What would you say?
He asked for time to think. Last time we talked on the phone, he was already so weak that I could not hear his voice on the phone. We spoke through his father. This guy said, “I know what I would say to all the people. Try to be a milestone in someone's life story. At least do something. Something to be remembered."
Hug without hands
Nick used to fight for independence in every detail. Now, due to a busy schedule, more cases have begun to be entrusted to the patronage worker, who helps with dressing, moving and other routine matters. Nick's childhood fears did not come true. He recently got engaged, is about to get married, and now believes that he doesn’t need his hands to hold his bride’s heart. He no longer worries about how he will communicate with his children. Chance helped. An unfamiliar two-year-old girl approached him. She saw that Nick had no hands. Then the girl put her hands behind her back and laid her head on his shoulder.
Nick can't shake anyone's hand - he hugs people. And even set a world record. A guy without arms hugged 1,749 people in an hour. He wrote a book about his life while typing 43 words per minute on a computer. In between work trips, he fishes, plays golf and surfs.
“I don’t always get up in the morning with a smile on my face. Sometimes my back hurts,” says Nick, “But because my principles include great power, I continue to take small steps forward, baby steps. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the ability to act, relying not on one’s own strength, but on the help of God.
Parents of disabled children usually divorce. My parents didn't divorce. Do you think they were scared? Yes. Do you think they trusted God? Yes. Do you think they are now seeing the fruits of their labors? Absolutely right.
How many people would believe it if they showed me on TV and said, “This guy prayed to the Lord and he got arms and legs”? But when people see me as I am, they wonder: “How can you smile?” For them this is a visible miracle. I need my trials to make me realize how dependent I am on God. Other people need my testimony that “the power of God is made perfect in weakness.” They look into the eyes of a man without arms and without legs and see in them peace, joy - what everyone strives for.”
Nick Vujicic travels a lot around the world, has written more than one book and starred in the film “Butterfly Circus”
In early October 2011, the Christian world was shocked by the stunning news: Nick Vujicic on his official page wrote on Facebook that he was engaged and would soon marry a completely healthy and amazingly beautiful girl Mayahari Kanae!
And now, a few years later, we can join congratulations from all over the world not only on marriage, but also on the birth of his son Kioshi, as well as on his second expected soon baby.
Nick and Kanae Vujicic talk about the story of their acquaintance and about the new book “Love Without Borders” in a radio interview. We publish summary conversations. Full version in English .
- Kanae, you have such an unusual appearance, tell us about yourself.
— My father is Japanese, my mother is Mexican. My father was in love with Mexico and wanted to be surrounded by its nature, so he opened a business related to agriculture. That's how he met my mother. She worked in his office, and they met quite interestingly: they had a common hobby - collecting postage stamps, coins. The longer they talked, the more they fell in love and realized that they were suitable for each other. And my father loved Mexico so much that we all stayed there. Even though we lived in Mexico, he cooked Japanese dishes and sometimes spoke to us in Japanese. We still observe some Japanese traditions, but overall Mexico wins. I love Mexican food, people, I love this culture. Unfortunately, my dad died when I was eighteen, and I stayed with my mom. My sister was living in America at that time and said: “Hey, come to me!” And my younger brother and I came here.
—And at that moment you met Nick?
- Yes. We moved and... I had to go through a lot... I was still very young. I knew about God, but I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. I didn't know Him as a friend, as a father. Therefore, when my earthly father died, I was completely devastated, I felt almost like an orphan. And I lost everything. I left behind my friends, we sold our house, we lost our father’s business. I desperately needed love, hope...
— Nick, you’ve written more than one book. But it was in this one that I told about you. This is not just a book, it tells the story of your love - a real guide for people who have gone through the same thing as you. Let's talk about the hopes and dreams you had as a child, Nick. Did you feel like an ordinary teenager, wanted to have a girlfriend or even get married?
— At the age of 8-9-10, I was jealous of everyone who walked hand in hand with girls. It was annoying sometimes. Especially when I thought about my future or whether girls would love me for who I am. I fell in love with girls, my first love was called Megan, we were in first grade. Every guy, I'm sure of this, thinks about how he will one day get married and become a father. When I was a teenager, I wondered whether I would have to spend the rest of my life as a bachelor. I was in a relationship when I was 19... We were very young and we both felt like we shouldn't date until we were ready for a serious relationship. We decided to wait. We waited four years and... separated. It was very painful. I was overcome by the fear that I would never find my “soul mate” in my life. I began to return to the idea that I would have to remain single for the rest of my life. But miracles happen - she is nearby! We just had to wait until God completed his plan.
— What were you looking for in men before meeting Nick, Kanae?
“Everything was completely different for me.”
- I had a relationship... And it seemed that everything was going well. But I couldn't find what I needed in my partner. The rest is told in the book.
— What advice can you give to listeners suffering from loneliness?
- Trust God because He never doubts you. Love yourself and, above all, love God. God will help you reach maturity—even when you think you're ready. Be more open. Be happy with what you have, even if you really want to finally meet “the one.” God gives everything - in due time. If you have God, you have everything.
- Let's talk about your first meeting, Nick.
— It was love at first sight. We met during a speech day at college. It was at Kanae's former boss's house that I met her and her sister Yoshiya. I had never heard such names before, I saw them at the same time and could not understand who they were, but we figured it out very quickly. The speech, by the way, was unique - only seventeen people in the hall, more like a cabinet meeting. The most beautiful, divine woman went upstairs. When I saw her, I even felt my arms and legs! Real fireworks! Chemistry! I said to myself: “Stop, stop, stop! Is this just with me or with her too?!” And I felt that “fireworks” were flashing inside her too! I talked to her longer than to other people. And the more I talked to her, the more I wanted to continue... When she left, I felt that my soul was leaving with her... It was like: “Hey-hey-hey, come back, stay with me!” Many people ask how long are we going to be together? Forever.
- How was it for you, Kanae?
“When I saw Nick, it was such a wonderful moment. Magic! The problem is that I already had someone. Getting a new guy, dating someone else, breaking your heart... But with Nick there was a strong connection, real chemistry. I felt something very special. Although I had just met him, it seemed to me that I had known him all my life. I asked myself: “How is this possible?” I've never felt this way before.
— How many days, weeks, months later did you make your decision?
- In three months. After that meeting we did not see each other, but our feelings did not change.
— A question that interests many listeners: How do Nick’s physical limitations affect your relationship?
- Of course, they influence in a certain way. But my feelings cover everything. And these restrictions are no longer a problem. I would not even talk about restrictions, but about everyday needs... In general, all this is unimportant.
“It so happened that even before the wedding she saw how I “functioned” in everyday life. And she was not afraid, on the contrary, she wanted to help.
My wife feeds me and tries to help me in every way she can. She is very smart and treats people with soul. But the decision about marriage is not made so quickly; you need to imagine what difficulties you might encounter in your life together. I felt like she really knew what it was like to have a guy like me as a husband! My parents asked what would happen if she and I had a child without arms and legs. It is quite possible. Kanae’s answer was: “Even if our children are disabled, we will love them and treat them as normal. At least they will have before their eyes an example of how to live happily in such a state.” Each person’s capabilities are limited in their own way, each has their own past, each has mental wounds and fears. Some of them stay with us even though we have moved forward.
In the winter of 2011, when our relationship was just beginning, I lost all my savings due to the financial crisis. I had to borrow money from my parents. I started to feel depressed. Imagine: I, a motivational speaker, cried like a baby, sobbed and could not calm down. I panicked and couldn’t eat or sleep. I wasn't sure if she would stay with me. After all, I had neither legs nor arms, and now... It wasn’t even about the money, I was emotionally devastated. I couldn't even accept simple solution what should I eat for lunch? And when I told Kanae, “Baby, I lost my money...”, she said, “It’s okay, I’ll find a second job.” And she didn't leave me!
- Okay, then tell me how you decided to propose to her.
“I made the decision when she supported me during the crisis. I realized that this is the wife who was sent to me by the Lord. It happened completely spontaneously. I wanted to make sure that she would be shocked, it would be a surprise for her.
- He had a ring, he thought of everything in advance! He asked where I would like to have my wedding. I replied that it should be a simple place. I was so shocked that I couldn't think straight!
— Our mothers met the day before I asked her main question. I just trusted God. I bought a diamond ring, put it in a bowl of chocolate ice cream that she ordered... The whole story is in the book.
- What about the wedding dance?
“We didn’t rehearse it in advance.” I was worried about the dress, about how I would look...
-You were great! Even though we didn't rehearse, everything worked out just right.
— Your book is called “Love without limits. A remarkable story of true love." It has a very revealing chapter called “The Joy of Temperance.” Tell us, what is this joy expressed in?
— Many people postpone marriage until they have children, as my friends did. They live for today, without thinking that tomorrow is about to come. We knew sex was good. But sex was created by God and should only happen after marriage. You cannot enjoy sex before it. It is created to express love and is only for people who are married. Many of my friends suffer because of this, running from one sexual partner to another, a third, etc. I look into Kanae’s eyes and think that this is true love. It's old-fashioned, but the greatest way to show your children how much you love them is to love their mother. There is no shame in marrying a virgin; God will not give you a second chance and will not return your innocence. I think it is very important to wait for your spouse... Some of my friends stopped respecting me after I said that my future wife is a virgin. You have nothing to lose. You don't sacrifice anything by remaining virgins - on the contrary, you gain.
- Kanae, what do you think?
— Advice to girls: trust your heart. There's no need to rush. There is no need to blame yourself for daydreaming or expecting much from guys. God sends love when He deems it necessary for you.
— The book is a real textbook! One of the chapters contains ten tips on how to keep yourself in check before marriage. We at the editorial office found them very necessary and useful! And yet, how are things on the family front? Are there conflicts or does the Vujicic family have a peaceful sky above their heads?
— People ask us: What is it like? We both know that God has blessed us. There are, of course, quarrels as in any normal family, but various issues. From large to small, like choosing furniture or creating a menu. But we both know we've moved up a level. We communicate with each other a lot, especially on the road. I like to chat about this and that, she is sometimes not in the mood and says that she would like to continue the conversation tomorrow, and I agree. We respect each other. But this is a process...
— I had the opportunity to visit you. There were a lot of people there celebrating the publication of the book...
- Yes Yes! I became pregnant during a three-month tour and we grabbed our heads: “We will have to make a transfer for 2-3 years. We had other plans for them!” We shared our joy with five hundred people and spent the first year at home. No parties or anything like that. It was like closing on major renovation. We gathered the people and said: “Guys, this has been a wonderful year! The book came out and... we’re having a baby!”
“Many were afraid for the unborn child, knowing my characteristics. How did you feel about it, Kanae?
“I think God protected me.” Because throughout my pregnancy I did not share the fears of my loved ones at all. Even if something went wrong, the baby would still be as beautiful as his dad.
- Nick, you are a busy man now. Constantly on the road, do you find a minute in your schedule to sit down and relax?
- With difficulties! When you, as a motivational speaker, look at the calendar and see that a new performance, or even a tour, is coming up... Thank God, now there are technologies that allow you to communicate at a distance, like the Facetime application (analogous to Skype for iPhone)! And, of course, my travels are much harder for Kanae than for me.
