Life is an infinitely colorful painting, yet some beginnings are tainted with despair, seemingly the cruelest destiny a person must bear. This is not a fairy tale, but a powerful lesson about extraordinary resilience and the love of life, about a young man who once wanted to end his life at the age of 10, only to become a lighthouse of inspiration for millions across continents.

Our protagonist is Nick Vujicic, born with a completely disabled body, lacking both arms and legs.

The story begins on December 4, 1982 (or December 1, 1982, according to some sources), in a small street corner in Melbourne, Australia. Nick’s mother, Dushka, was pregnant at 25. Being a midwife herself, she was well aware of prenatal care, frequently visiting the best doctors for check-ups and ultrasounds. During two ultrasound scans, doctors confirmed the baby was a boy but failed to detect any abnormality.

Then, fate knocked. Immediately after Nick’s first cry, a chilling silence fell over the delivery room. Mrs. Dushka asked, “Is the baby okay?” Not a word of reply. The baby was not placed next to his mother but taken to the corner of the room for examination and discussion. Finally, the medical team reached a harsh conclusion: The baby suffered from congenital tetra-amelia syndrome—a rare genetic disorder that left him without limbs from birth.

In that moment, the world of Mrs. Dushka and Mr. Boris collapsed. For years, they questioned why such a terrible thing happened to their family and feared that their son might only live for a few years. Fear heavily weighed on their lives. Mrs. Dushka was afraid she was incapable of caring for her disabled child, while Mr. Boris only saw a bleak future awaiting the boy.

However, with strong faith, the couple carefully considered all options and made an ironclad resolution: To raise their disabled son to be as normal as possible.

Nick Vujicic grew up innocent and carefree, unaware of the profound difference between his body and those of his peers. Doctors had advised Mr. and Mrs. Boris to let him play with other disabled children, but his parents disagreed.

Nick recalled his mother’s words: “My mother told me: You need to play with normal kids, because you are a normal kid; you’re just physically a little bit disadvantaged. That’s all.” She did not want her son to withdraw into a lonely, insecure shell due to his physical difference.

The seed of life continued to sprout until Nick reached school age, which was when the wall of loneliness began to form. His parents fought tirelessly for their son to study at a mainstream school instead of one for special needs children. Initially, the Victorian Education Department did not permit it. But thanks to the relentless efforts of the family, lawmakers eventually changed their stance. Vujicic became one of the first students with disabilities to be educated in a school for normal students.

However, attending a mainstream school instead opened up a long period of continuous disappointment.

During school, Vujicic longed to live like everyone else, but he always felt marginalized. Most people believed that if his appearance was unusual, his mind could not be normal either. He faced relentless bullying from his peers. Sometimes, the children would excitedly hold toys out in front of him, mocking him. Nick became a victim of isolation, confining himself to a corner of the room, sadly watching the other children play.

The changes in his thoughts during adolescence plunged him into continuous sadness and repression. Vujicic reminisced: “I was sad because I was helpless in simple tasks, like getting a soda from the fridge or feeding myself, things that were so simple for others, but I couldn’t do.”

When contemplating bigger issues, like “Will I ever find a wife who truly loves me? How can I give her children?“, Nick grew even more depressed.

As the days passed, Vujicic unintentionally developed depression, in addition to his rare congenital condition. From the age of 8, dark thoughts began to germinate in his mind.

At the age of 10, the series of disappointments and psychological repression pushed Vujicic to the most drastic decision of his life. One day, he decided to lie face down to drown himself in the bathtub. This was the most intense and conflicting moment in the story.

He counted down every second to meet death. But in that crucial moment, the faces of his loved ones flashed through his mind. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving his family and realized the selfishness of his action. With his last ounce of strength, Nick flipped himself over. He had retreated from the edge of the abyss.

Yet, the emotional scars were too deep; they would not let go. Nick’s parents took turns caring for him, his mother often telling him stories about human love, nature, or destitute people who fought to survive. With his mother’s love, Nick gradually shed his feelings of shame. Mr. Boris also frequently took his son to the beach and spent much time making toys like kites and wagons for him.

Despite this, Vujicic had not completely abandoned the idea of suicide. In a moment of despair, he revealed to his younger brother that he would take his own life at the age of 21. The news quickly reached his father.

Mr. Boris spoke to his son with immense love and unwavering resolve: “Don’t worry, I promise your mother and I will always be by your side and help you.”

Gradually, through the boundless love and the steadfast commitment of his family, Nick Vujicic was able to abandon the idea of suicide.

The biggest turning point, marking a powerful shift from a desperate boy to a warrior, occurred when Nick was 15 years old. After reading the Gospel of John, Chapter 9, where Jesus says that the reason a man was born blind was so that the glory of God might be displayed in him, Vujicic pondered for days. He once exclaimed: “I truly believe that God healed me so that I could be a living witness to God’s wonderful power.”

The will to live surged strongly when Nick’s mother showed him an article about a man with a disability similar to his who had risen above his circumstances. Nick realized: No one could help him but himself.

From that moment on, Nick’s journey to become a normal person began with extraordinary resilience. He struggled with exercises to become self-sufficient, not wanting to sadden his parents.

He resolved to:

Learn to write by using the two toes on his left foot.
Learn to type using a heel-and-toe method, reaching a speed of 45 words per minute.
Learn life skills such as throwing a tennis ball, playing drums, getting a cup of water, brushing his hair, brushing his teeth, answering the phone, shaving, playing golf, swimming, and even skydiving.

With his phenomenal willpower, Vujicic dissolved the boundaries between himself and other ordinary people. The miracle of an ordinary person had manifested within him. He was an avid reader and actively participated in social media forums.

The Inspirational Journey:

At the age of 17, after a janitor at his high school inspired him to speak publicly about overcoming challenges, Vujicic began his journey of inspiration. He:

Was elected captain of the Ban Mam Raider team and worked with the student council on fundraising events for local charities and disability campaigns.
Established the non-profit organization Life Without Limbs.
Traveled across dozens of countries, giving thousands of speeches to millions of people, moving the hearts of his listeners with his fervor and touching stories.
Released the DVD Life’s Greater Purpose (2005) and several professional speaking DVDs.
Authored four renowned books, including Life Without Limits, Unstoppable, Limitless, and Stand Strong, which have been translated into over 30 languages and sold over a million copies worldwide.
Starred in the short film The Butterfly Circus (2009), winning Best Actor and several Best Short Film awards.
Graduated with two bachelor’s degrees in Financial Planning and Accounting. He is currently the President and CEO of Life Without Limbs.

Happiness Smiles:

Nick’s life also includes a fairy-tale love story. He met his wife, Kanae Miyahara, who is of Mexican and Japanese descent, for the first time at a speaking engagement in Texas, USA, in 2008. Vujicic was enchanted by the beautiful, confident, and kind young woman. He confessed she was “one of the most beautiful women, both outwardly and inwardly, that God gave me the opportunity to meet.”

Although Kanae initially had a boyfriend and thought Nick liked her sister, she eventually broke up with her boyfriend to be with Nick. They overcame many obstacles, including Nick’s company facing a financial crisis with a $50,000 debt just before their engagement. Kanae reassured her future husband that she would work to support him.

On February 12, 2012, the couple’s wedding took place in California, USA.

Before their marriage, Nick’s parents had asked Kanae a difficult question: “How would you feel if one of your children later had a disability like Vujicic?” Kanae replied emotionally: “I think I would face it easier than you, because when Vujicic was born, you were stunned and didn’t know what to do, but I already have Vujicic as a role model, as a guide.”

After marriage, Nick focused on his inspiring speeches, while Kanae became a devoted wife and family caregiver.

Their happiness grew even more complete as they welcomed:

Their first son, who was perfectly healthy (born one year after the wedding).
Their second son (in 2015).
A pair of adorable twin daughters (at the end of 2017).

Their family now has both sons and daughters, living a perfectly fulfilled life. Nick Vujicic, the young man who once wanted to end his life at 10 due to unbearable mental pressure, has now become a global icon of resilience and love for life, enjoying a happy family, proving that: Life has no limits, unless you set them for yourself.