Nick Vuychich. The incredible story of a man without arms and legs, who achieved a stunning success! Goosebumps: Nick Vuychich shared tender photos with his wife and newborn daughters Nick Vuychich autobiography

Nick and Kanae Vujicic talk about the history 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 a unusual appearance, Tell me about yourself.

My father is Japanese, my mother is Mexican. My father was in love with Mexico, he wanted to be surrounded by her nature, so he opened a case related to agriculture. That's how he met my mom. She worked in his office, and they met quite interestingly: they had a common hobby - collecting postage stamps and 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 meals Japanese cuisine spoke to us sometimes in Japanese. We still keep some Japanese traditions, but in general the victory is for Mexico. I love Mexican food, people, I love this culture. Unfortunately, my father died when I was eighteen, and I stayed with my mother. My sister at that time lived in America and said: “Hey, come to me!” And me and mine younger brother came here.

—And that's when you met Nick?

- Yes. We moved and... I had to go through a lot... I was still quite young. I knew about God, but I didn't have a personal relationship with Him. I did not 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. Left behind friends, we sold the house, lost my father's business. I desperately needed love, hope...

— Nick, you wrote more than one book. But it was in this one that he told me 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. you felt 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 with the girls by the hand. It was sometimes annoying. 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 the first grade. Every guy, I'm sure of it, thinks about how he will one day marry, become a father. When I was a teenager, I wondered if I would have to spend the rest of my life as a bachelor. I was in a relationship at 19... We were very young and we both felt we shouldn't date until we were ready for a serious relationship. We decided to wait. We waited for four years and ... dispersed. 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 a bachelor for the rest of my life. But miracles happen - she is near! We just had to wait until God had done His plan.

“What were you looking for in men before meeting Nick, Kanae?”

“It 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 in the book.

What advice can you give 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 if you think you are ready. Be more open. Rejoice in what you have, even if you unbearably 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 over a performance day in college. It was at Kanae's former boss's house where 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 was who, but we figured it out very quickly. The speech, by the way, was unique - only seventeen people in the hall, more like a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. The most beautiful, divine woman went upstairs. At the sight of her, I even felt arms and legs! Real fireworks! Chemistry! I said to myself, “Stop, stop, stop! Is it just me or her too?!” And I felt that "fireworks" flashed inside her too! I talked with her longer than with 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 with you, Kanae?

“When I saw Nick, it was such a beautiful moment. Magic! The problem is, I already had someone. Getting a new guy, dating someone else, breaking your heart... But there was a strong connection with Nick, real chemistry. I felt something very special. Although I had only just met him, I felt like I had known him all my life. I asked myself: “How is this possible?” Never felt like this before.

- After how many days, weeks, months did you make a decision?

- In three months. After that meeting, we did not see each other, but our feelings have not changed.

- A question that interests many listeners: How does 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 does not matter.

- It so happened that even before the wedding, she saw how I “function” in everyday life. And she was not afraid, on the contrary, she wanted to help.

My wife feeds me, tries to help in every way she can. She is very smart, with a soul relates to people. But the decision to marry is not made so quickly, you need to imagine what difficulties you may encounter in life together. I felt like she really knew what it was like to have a guy like me in her husband! My parents asked what would happen if we had a baby without arms and legs. It is quite possible. Kanae's response 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. The possibilities of each person are limited in their own way, each has his own past, each has spiritual wounds and fears. Some of them remain with us even as we have advanced.

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 got depressed. Imagine: I, a motivational speaker, sobbed like a baby, sobbed and could not calm down. Panic seized me, I could neither eat nor sleep. I wasn't sure if she would stay with me. After all, I had no legs, no arms, and now ... It's not even about the money, I was emotionally devastated. I couldn't even accept simple solution what should I eat for lunch. And when I said to Kanae: “Baby, I lost my money…”, she replied: “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 quite spontaneously. I wanted to make sure she would be shocked, it would come as a surprise to her.

- He had a ring, he thought everything out in advance! He asked me where I would like to get married. I replied that it should be a simple place. I was so shocked that I couldn't think!

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, which she ordered ... The whole story is in the book.

What about the wedding dance?

We didn't rehearse it beforehand. I was worried about the dress, about how I would look ...

- You were great! Although we did not rehearse, everything turned out as it should.

— Your book is called “Love without limits. A wonderful story of true love." It has a very explicit chapter called "The Joy of Temperance." Tell us, what is this joy expressed in?

“Many people put off getting married until they have children, like my friends did. They live for today, not thinking that tomorrow is about to come. We knew sex was good. But sex was created by God and should only be after marriage. You can't enjoy sex before marriage. It was created to express love and only for people who are married. Many of my friends suffer because of this, running from one sexual partner to another, a third, and so on. I look into Kanae's eyes and think that this is it. real love. Old fashioned, but the greatest way to show children how much you love them is to love their mother. It is not a shame to marry a virgin, God will not give you a second chance, will not return your innocence. I think it's 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 don't lose anything. You are not sacrificing anything by remaining virgins - on the contrary, you are gaining.

Kanae, what do you say?

Advice to girls: trust your heart. Don't rush. No need to blame yourself for dreaming or expecting a lot from guys. God sends love when He considers it necessary for you.

The book is a real textbook! In one of the chapters there are ten tips for keeping yourself in check before the wedding. We in the editorial staff considered them very necessary and useful! And yet, so how are things on the family front? Are there conflicts or Vujicic family peaceful sky overhead?

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, on various issues. From large to small, such as choosing furniture or compiling a menu. But we both know we've gone to the next level. We communicate a lot with each other, especially on the road. I like to talk 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 happened to visit you. There were a bunch of people celebrating the release of the book...

- Yes Yes! I got pregnant during a three-month tour and we grabbed our heads: “It will be necessary 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, nothing like that. It was like closing for a major renovation. We gathered the people and said: “Guys, it was wonderful year! A book came out and ... we will have a baby!

- Many were afraid for the unborn child, knowing my features. How did you experience it, Kanae?

“I think God protected me. Because I didn’t share the fears of my loved ones during my entire pregnancy. Even if something went wrong, the baby would still be as beautiful as his dad.

— Nick, you're 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 on the nose… Thank God, now there are technologies that allow you to communicate at a distance, like the Facetime application (similar to Skype for iPhone)! And, of course, my trips are much harder for Kanae than for me.

bonmotistka — 29.03.2015 Frankly, when you suggested to me yesterday to ask Nick Vuychich how he and his wife make children, I chuckled. I didn't know yet that Nick came to Russia just to tell everyone about THIS.
tiffany_fold , remember, that was your question... But... first things first.

He looked very ordinary. If we remove the moment when the assistant carried him in his arms from the wheelchair to the chair, it seemed to me that confidence had disappeared from my gaze for a second. It was very close, I even managed to grab a frame ...

And so ... Everyone is sitting at a common table. All are well-mannered people, and therefore no one particularly gesticulates. Nick is even one of the most emotional... Now he will move his shoulder, then he will scratch his cheek (namely, he will “scratch”, and not “rub”) ... And his hands? It's like he put his hands behind his back...

It was a press conference where the questions were more interesting than the answers. And not because the speaker answered sluggishly or dryly. Just... Judge for yourself...

Here, a man stands up, powerful, holding a "picture" in his hands: "New Radio". He confesses that he got to the press conference because he tortured the organizers with questions.
- A couple of decades ago, when the doctors abandoned my child and said, it would sound rude .., that my wife had a freak in her stomach, that it was better to have an operation, and that it was necessary to save the life of my wife, not my son .., - I stood in dead end. And the words that one person said to me changed my whole life. This man told me your story, Nick Vuychich was not even thirteen at that time - N.Sh.) . Yesterday was my son's birthday. He turned twenty. (Audience applauds.) In the nineties, your example inspired me very much. Now I am a successful person. And now, actually, a question. It's being asked by my radio listeners: "Who is the person you believe in?"
( div4ina007 And pkaprizjan It looks like you were talking about this in the comments on the previous post ...)
Nick replied that here, for him, faith and love for God are still primary:
“All that this world could offer me would not be enough. I am not a source of hope, not some speakers. They say all you need is positivity. It's a lie! Because you need something more... Hope! Someone said "Hope dies last". But for me, hope never dies. Because my hope goes beyond human possibilities. Therefore, I have power.

- I flew from Armenia, with my wife and daughter, especially to see you. I'm doing the same thing as you. I am also a motivational speaker and artist and writer. Your son was born on your wedding anniversary, and my daughter was born on our anniversary. I have watched recordings of many of your performances. I saw interest and understanding in the eyes of the listeners. Can you name three countries where you felt the greatest demand for your speeches?
- A lot of invitations come from Asian countries. From China, Hong Kong, Korea... Unfortunately, so many young people in these countries have lost hope... So Asia is one part. I can also name latin america, Central America, South America, where there is a lot of poverty and need. It is difficult for me to name the third region. I think all people have their own personal needs and everyone is looking for some greater purpose. And everyone needs inspiration.
The artist gave Nick and his wife their family portrait.

Seryozha Denisov, the “crystal boy”, who survived 36 fractures in his 15 years, came from Ryazan:
How do you deal with your fear if you have it?
- Many people do not even try to do something, simply because they are afraid. It's not that I'm not afraid of anything at all. But looking at you, I see that your spirit is courageous. Because you took the microphone and asked me your question in front of the entire audience. And someone can't do what you just did... You can be proud of yourself.

The entire first row is occupied by people in wheelchairs. Everyone has their own story. Everyone can compete with the "hero of the day" in fortitude. Yes, and not one he, a hero, turned out.
Nick has already taken place, he has been given prosperity and world fame to help him today. But how do these people cope, living on an allowance that would not even be enough to feed a dog if they decided to get one?!
Not everyone managed to take the floor, forty minutes were allotted for questions. It is clear that in this situation it is somehow awkward to raise a hand. Let Serezha Denisov remain a man who is bolder than me.

One bewilderment... Was it really impossible to do something with the perimeter of the "Public Chamber", terribly dug up? Well, at least the flooring in front of the gate ... If it didn’t work out to move the venue of the event (it was scheduled almost a month in advance, and, probably, then everything was still in order with the asphalt). The yard is small. It only fits a few cars... And thanks to the guards, who personally helped people in wheelchairs get over potholes and curbs.

Russia is the 55th country he has visited. He is going to definitely come to us in a year and also to the World Cup ... Because he fell in love.
Nick generally talked a lot about love. About his wife, sons, already born and expected in August. Without them, his new, fourth in a row, book, which is called: "Love without limits..."
The book was given to us immediately. But, to be honest, impressed by the face-to-face meeting, I opened it only this morning. I thought there about love for God, but it turned out, about the relationship between a man and a woman. And, as usual with Vujicic, extremely frankly:
"It happened during an interview when Kanae (wife - N.Sh.) was pregnant. A journalist from Dallas during a live broadcast asked how it was possible that we would have a child. I was embarrassed, but tried to get away with a joke.
“Everyone knows,” I said, “that for that. You don't need arms and legs to have a baby.
But my answer did not satisfy her ... I could answer rudely, point out that she invades our personal lives. Still, a sense of humor prevailed.
IN live I said:
- In fact, I heard that the legs even get in the way in this matter!
Believe me, after that the journalist immediately fell silent!

Despair of loneliness and painful partings. Doubts and the importance of the right moment for a marriage proposal.
What to refrain from before the wedding and how to spend the first night after.
The personal life of the spouses in the house where the children appear.

I won't disrupt the circulation sale and retell everything... But, you know, yesterday he looked like a respectable man, a speaker, with thoughtful accents and pauses. And here, respect , and... - a boy by a boy. Enamored! For wife, children, and the whole world...

Thanks to the publishing house "Eksmo" for the invitation. It was the first press conference that I attended as a blogger and not as a journalist for any publication. So, the meeting turned out to be quite special for me.

Nick (Nicholas) Vujicic(Serb. Nick Vujicic English. Nicholas James Vujicic; December 4, 1982, Brisbane, Australia) is a Christian preacher and professional motivational speaker, born with Tetra-Amelia syndrome, a rare hereditary disease that leads to the absence of four limbs.

Worried about his disability as a child, he learned to live with his handicap, sharing his experience with others and becoming a world-famous motivational speaker. His speeches are mainly addressed to children and youth (including handicapped), in the hope of activating their search for the meaning of life and the development of their abilities. Nick talks about his Christian belief that God changes people's hearts and does his work, and that God is great because he gives a person the opportunity to overcome any difficulties.

Biography

He was born on December 4, 1982 in Brisbane in a family of Serbian emigrants and had a rare pathology: the boy had no limbs - both arms and both legs (partially had one foot with two fingers, which allowed the boy to later learn to walk, swim, skateboard, play computer and write).

Despite his handicap, the boy was born healthy and as soon as Victorian law changed, the parents insisted that their son attend regular school.

In 1990, very worried about his physical disabilities, the boy tried to commit suicide, but over time he realized that his achievements in life could inspire others. He began to study simple things: learned to write with two fingers on the left foot, learned to brush teeth, shave, comb, answer the phone and type on the computer. In the seventh grade, the boy became the head of the class, participated in campaigns to raise funds for charity.

Since 1999, he began to speak to his church group and soon opened non-profit organization"Life without limbs" (Eng. Life without Limbs), becoming a motivational speaker.

In 2005 Nick Vujicic was nominated for the Young Australian of the Year award.

In 2009, he starred in the film "The Butterfly Circus", which tells about a man without limbs, Will and his fate.

He has traveled to over 24 countries, speaking at schools, universities and other organizations. Participates in TV shows and writes books. His first book was published in 2010.

Currently resides in California, USA.

On March 28 and 29, 2015, Nick Vuychich made his first speech in Russia (in Moscow and St. Petersburg) with a motivational lecture "Life without Borders".

Marriage

On February 12, 2012, Nick Vujisik (Vuychich), a Christian without arms and legs, married the beautiful Kanae Miyahara. The wedding ceremony took place in California. This marriage has become a symbol of the faithfulness of God and a testimony to a huge number of people. Fans from all over the world bombarded Nick's Facebook page with comments. They congratulate him on this special occasion and express their joy and delight at being able to see and hear such good news.

The birth of a son

“Thank you so much for your love and prayers. Mom feels great.

Nick and Kanae named their son Kayashi James Vujicic. He was born weighing 3.9 kilograms and 55.2 centimeters tall. - wrote the preacher.

Proceedings

• 2010 - Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life ("Life without limits: Inspiration for an absurdly good life"), Random House, 2010
• 2013 - Unstoppable. Incredible strength faith in action
• 2014 - book "Be strong. You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down)" (Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down))
• 2015 - book "Love without limits. Way to amazing strong love»

Family

• Father - Boris Vuychich, Protestant pastor
• Mother - Dushka Vuychich, works as a nurse
• Wife - Kanae Miyahara
• Son - Kiyoshi James Vuychich

Video with Nick Vujicic:

musical Video with Nick Vujicic:

"... Where do we go when there is no hope left?
Sometimes it's so hard to find peace of mind
I look at the sun, feel its comforting warmth

I see great peaks reminding me that I'm alive and don't want to die
And I don't want to miss another day, another night.
I know there's something else...
What we live for, I see the answer in distant stars

I hear it on the ocean shore
I know there's something else...

I know we're all afraid, afraid to be alone
We all want to believe, I want to believe, just believe

This world can shatter and perish in the ocean
The world may fall apart today
Some will say that my words are a sign of weakness.
But maybe you will discover my only source of light
I breathe it, I live it.

When I was 10 I wanted to kill myself
There was no hope
I wanted to throw myself into the water and not come up again
But God sent me into the world to give people hope...

Nicholas James "Nick" Vujicic (4 December 1982) is an Australian writer and singer. He was born with a congenital tetra-amelia disease - a disease-mutation, as a result of which all limbs cease to develop and the fetus is born without arms and legs.

Childhood

Nicholas was born on December 4 in Australia, in a family of Serbian immigrants. Despite the fact that his mother was not diagnosed with pathologies during the entire period of pregnancy, the baby was born with a genetic and rare enough even for modern world mutation - the complete absence of limbs. The scientific diagnosis is "a child with congenital tetra-amelia". No other pathologies or diseases were found.

Since childhood, Nick - that's what his parents began to call him - was constantly tormented by the ridicule of everyone around him. He for a long time could not come to terms with his position in society and, starting from the age of two, he stopped going out into the street. At home, he tried to learn at least elementary things - reading and writing, but due to the lack of limbs, as well as experience in such matters with parents, the socialization of the child took a long and hard time.

In order to somehow help Nicholas adapt to birth defects and get used to the idea that it is impossible to get rid of them, his parents send him to one of the Australian schools for the disabled, where the boy is taught everything necessary. However, two years later, the government of the United States issued a law stating that disabled people with any physical disabilities have the right to study in regular schools without prejudice to their civil rights. Nicholas is transferred from specialized to regular high school.

Youth

By the time Nicholas is ten years old, he still lives for only one purpose - to die as soon as possible, because he simply cannot imagine his life with such a birth defect. According to Nick himself, once he even tried to drown himself in the bath:

“Once I asked my mother to take me for a swim and not interfere with me. Like, I wanted to try to do it myself. For half an hour I tried to face the water, but it was hard as hell to keep myself in the slippery tub. And when I finally succeeded, and I already imagined how my mother and father would stand at my funeral, it suddenly dawned on me: “How can I hurt them so much?” After all, it would be so selfish and unfair, I absolutely did not think about WHAT they would feel, WHAT pain they would experience! And after I realized this, I was able to get used to the thought of my illness ... ".

When the crisis age was far behind, and Nick himself was imbued with life and achieving something new, he independently and successfully entered Griffin University, located in Brisbane, and graduated at the age of 21, receiving a double bachelor's degree (Nicholas simultaneously studied at faculties accounting and financial planning).

Early career and philanthropy

After that, Nick decides that his rare disease should not only repel those around him, but also encourage people to live. He begins to travel around the cities and visit places that are rarely visited. ordinary people. Nick gives small speeches in prisons, orphanages and specialized schools for the disabled, proving to everyone that life is beautiful, and even the absence of limbs does not give anyone the right to wish for death!

In 1999, Nicholas, thanks to the support of relatives and friends, opens charitable organization"Life without limbs", which begins to gain popularity first in the city, then around the world. It was for this that he was nominated and won the Young Australian of the Year award.

In addition to charity trips around the world, Nick never rests on his laurels. During his life, he wrote several books (“Life without borders. The path to amazing happy life", 2010; “Unstoppable. The Incredible Power of Faith in Action”, 2013; "Stay strong. You can overcome violence”, 2013; "Love without borders. Way to amazingly strong love”, 2015), released a song (“Something More”, 2011), a video for it and even managed to star in leading role in the film "The Butterfly Circus" (2009), which tells about the life of Will, the same guy as himself, with no limbs from birth.

Personal life

Despite his physiological defect and the illness that accompanies him throughout his life, Nick Vuychich is absolutely happy in the family and promotes healthy and full family relationships.

In early 2012, he met his first and only love, Kanae Miyahare, whom he married a few months later. On this moment the couple already has two absolutely healthy and strong babies - sons Kiyoshi James and Dejan Levy.

It 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 at once 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 to him, he began to speak:

"My son! Doesn't he have a hand?

The doctor replied:

"No... Your son has no arms or legs."

The doctors refused to show the baby to the mother. The nurses were crying.
Why?

Nicolas Vuychich was born in Melbourne, Australia, in a family of Serbian emigrants. Mother is a nurse. Father & Pastor. The whole parish lamented: “Why did the Lord allow this?” The pregnancy proceeded normally, with heredity everything is in order.

At first, the mother could not bring herself to take her son in her arms, she 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,” Duska Vujicic recalls. I didn't know who to contact with my questions. Even the doctors were confused. Only after four months I began to recover. My husband and I began to solve problems without looking far ahead. One by one."

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. Parents made sure that their son was taken to a regular school. Nick became the first disabled child in a regular Australian school.

“It meant that the teachers gave me too much attention,” recalls Nick. - On the other hand, although I had two friends, most often I heard from my peers: “Nick, go away!”, “Nick, you can’t do anything!”, “We don’t want to be friends with you!”, “You are nobody !"

drown myself

Every evening, Nick prayed to God and asked him: "God, give me arms and legs!" He cried and hoped that when he wakes up in the morning, arms and legs will already appear. Mom and dad bought him electronic hands. But they were too heavy, and the boy could not use them.

On Sundays he went to church school. They taught that the Lord loves everyone. Nick did not understand how this could be - why then God did not give him what everyone has. Sometimes adults would come up and say: “Nick, everything will be fine with you!” But he did not believe them - no one could explain to him why he was like that, and no one could help him, not even God. At the age of eight, Nicholas decided to drown himself in the bath. He asked his mother to take him there.

“I turned my face into the water, but it was very difficult to resist. Nothing worked. During this time, I presented a picture of my funeral - here are my dad and mom ... And then I realized that I could not kill myself. All I saw from my parents was love for me.”

change heart

Nick did not try to commit suicide anymore, but he kept thinking - why should he live.

He won't be able to work, he won't be able to take his bride by the hand, he won't be able to take his child in his arms when he cries. One day, my mother read an article to Nick about a seriously ill person 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 appear on it." Nick says that at that moment he stopped being angry with God.

“Then I realized, I am not just a person without arms and legs. I am a creation of God. God knows what and why He does. It doesn't matter what people think, says Nick now. God didn't answer my prayers. It 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 like that. Hands and feet by themselves.

At nineteen, Nick studied financial planning in the University. Once he was asked to speak to students. Seven minutes were allotted for the speech. Three minutes later, the girls in the hall were crying. One of them could not stop sobbing, she raised her hand and asked: “Can I go up to the stage and hug you?”. The girl went up to Nick and began to cry on his shoulder. She said, “No one has ever told me that they love me, no one has ever told me that I am beautiful the way I am. My life has 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 graduating from university?” Then other questions arose:

Will you ride alone?
- No.
- And with whom?
- Don't know.
- What are you going to talk about?
- Don't know.
- Who will listen to you?
- Don't know.

One hundred attempts to rise

Ten months a year he is on the road, two months at home. He traveled to more than two dozen countries, he was heard by more than three million people - in schools, nursing homes, prisons. It happens that Nick speaks in stadiums with thousands of people. 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, the assistant brings Nick onto the stage and helps him get on some kind of platform so that he can be seen. Then Nick tells episodes from his everyday life. About people still staring at him on the streets. About when kids run up and ask, “What happened to you?!” He replies in a hoarse voice, "All because of the cigarettes!"

And to those who are younger, he says: “I didn’t clean my room.” What he has in place of his legs, he calls the "ham". Nick reveals that his dog loves to bite him. And then he begins to beat off a fashionable rhythm with a ham.

After that, he says: "And to be honest, sometimes you can fall like this." Nick falls face down on the table he was standing on.

And continues:

“It happens in life that you fall, and it seems that you have no strength to rise. You wonder then if you have any hope... I have neither arms nor legs! It seems that if I try to rise at least a hundred times, I will not succeed. But after another defeat, I do not leave hope. I will try again and again. I want you to know that failure is not the end. What matters is how you finish. Are you going to finish strong? Then you will find the strength in yourself to rise - that's the way."

He leans on his forehead, then helps himself with his shoulders and stands up.

The women in the hall begin to cry.

And Nick starts talking about gratitude to God.

I don't save anyone

- People are touched, consoled, because they see that it is harder for someone than for them?

Sometimes they say to 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, made into a slave and subjected to violence. During this time, she had two children, one of them died. Now she has AIDS. Her parents don't want to talk to her. What can she hope for? She said that if she did not believe in God, she would commit 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 with no arms and no 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 personally - another such person. And they had hope. It is important for everyone to know that he is not alone and that he is 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—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, the absolute Hope that is above all circumstances. My hope is in heaven. If you associate your happiness with temporary things, it will be temporary.

I can tell many times when teenagers came up to me and said, “Today I looked in the mirror with a knife in my hand. It 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! Only God can. What I have is not Nick's accomplishments. If not for God, I would not be here with you and would not 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?

The smile of a friend.

Once I was informed 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 a few more times. I asked him once: "What would you like to say to all people?" He said, "What do you mean?" I replied: “Now, if 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 people. Try to be a milestone in someone's life story. Do something. Something to remember you."
Hug without hands

Previously, Nick fought for independence in every little thing. Now, due to the busy schedule, I began to trust more cases to the patronage worker, who helps to dress, move around and in other routine matters. Nick's childhood fears did not come true. He recently got engaged, is going to get married, and now he believes that he does not need hands to hold the heart of the bride. He no longer worries about how he will communicate with his children. The case 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 put her head on his shoulder.

Nick with fiancee

Nick can't shake hands with anyone - he hugs people. And even set a world record. A guy with no arms hugged 1,749 people in an hour. He wrote a book about his life, typing 43 words per minute on a computer. Between business 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 there is great power in my principles, I continue to take small steps forward, the steps of a baby. 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.

Usually parents of children with disabilities get divorced. My parents are not divorced. 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? Quite right.

How many people would believe 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 for who I am, they are perplexed: “How can you smile?” For them, this is a visible miracle. I need my trials so that I understand how dependent 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 legs and see in them peace, joy - something that everyone aspires to.