But the actress maintained her composure and handled the insult with grace. Imagine how painful it must have been to hear such cruel words. What the father and son didn’t realize was that Meryl speaks Italian. Meryl Streep in 1976 Credit: Getty Images She tried switching schools, but the taunting continued. She was called an alien and some kids would even steal her snacks. Growing up, Zuly was mercilessly bullied. RELATED: Waiter’s compassion for a man with no hands Bullied For Being ‘Different’ Unfortunately, her peers were not as supportive. She wanted me to do everything an able-bodied person can,” Zuly said. “Mum taught me to do basic things like making the bed, brushing my teeth and changing clothes using my mouth and stumps to grip things. She encouraged her daughter to learn how to do things on her own, and Zuly credits her mother and God for being the source of her independence. Sadly, Zuly’s father committed suicide when she was only two years old, leaving her mother to care for six children alone in Bogota, Columbia - a country that does not provide any financial assistance to people with disabilities.īut Guillermina insisted that her daughter could live a normal life and do anything she put her mind to. Zuly’s mother, Guillermina, undoubtedly taught her daughter the meaning of determination by example. Real-life Inspirational Stories – Born Without Arms Or Legs, Woman Overcomes More Than Just Disability This baby was fiercely loved and the story of how Jeannie’s reactions and encouragement for this young couple changed their life and the baby’s will inspire you! Click here to continue reading one of many Real-life Inspirational Stories. The young couple returned the next day, and every day after for several weeks. The boy took the parental bracelets Jeannie offered him so that he and the baby’s mother could come back to visit him. She reminded him he could take his time in exploring options rather than make an impulsive decision. And once the infant’s condition stabilized, she explained to the young, terrified dad that if he gave up his baby that day, he’d no longer be able to receive updates on his health. Jeannie kept him posted on his baby’s progress. RELATED: Laura Was Going To Abort, But Then God Visited Her In A Dream “There was someone looking down on him.”Īs hospital staff did everything to save the newborn, his teenaged father waited outside, sobbing uncontrollably. I’d rather just live, rather than attempting to set up a utopia of safety and comfort.“This is one of the cases I won’t forget,” said the doctor who treated the shoebox baby. Then you realize, “I’m human, it’s hot, I’m sweating… so what?” It’s that overall mindset and general ideology that “freed” me in Taiwan, and made me feel like a person again. As an American, it bothered me so much, and I took several showers a day. I worked in an un-air-conditioned building in Taiwan’s 100 degree summer, and I was sweating all the time. In Taiwan, just walking down a block can be a fascinating experience, as you never quite know what you’ll see. To me, that is trading variety for security – we want to make sure every road is safe and “up to code,” and as a result, all you ever see are empty sidewalks. In America, you’ll get a ticket in a second for parking on a sidewalk, and pedestrians never have to worry about walking around cars on a sidewalk. THIS IS A SIDEWALK! AAARGH!” And, this isn’t about sidewalks. As an American, I sometimes freak out and think, “WHY ARE THEY MAKING PEDESTRIANS WALK IN THE ROAD?! ASSHOLES. And, of course, there are merits to all of this.įor example, in Taiwan, people will park all over the sidewalks, and you often find yourself dodging around parked cars when walking, into the street. We like the security of strict building codes, knowing that all the door handles are the same design in case of an emergency. We like the security of knowing we can travel to another state and find the same 10 restaurants. But, in general, I feel like Americans have traded variety for security. I know I am being general here, and I KNOW that “real” restaurants exist in the US, too. I might find myself in a bit of a shack, run by a family for decades, where people pour their heart and soul into the food. Go out to eat? It’s not always going to be a chain restaurant that looks like all the other chain restaurants, due to all the building codes and ADA regulations. I realize I am perhaps being a bit cryptic here, but it just feels like things “matter” more here. I don’t just drive from place to place, eating at identical restaurants. There is a large, large, LARGE sense of community here. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I suddenly feel like a person for the first time. Then, I got a grant to move to Taiwan, and I did it.
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