Adriane's Background

Growing up as a child,  my parents did not shield or shelter me. Yes they worried. They told me they were saddened, shocked, stunned when they learned at the hospital that I was born that I was born without a hand. When my father learned that I didn't have a hand,  he paced the hospital floors worrying about what the future would hold for his new baby. He ended up at a bar near the hospital. When he retuned to the hospital, the nurses wanted to put mom and new baby (me) in a room by themselves but my father declined telling them they had nothing to hide.

In today's society, well meaning people ask the new parent. "Is the baby healthy? Does she have all her fingers and toes?" Why does that constitute being healthy? My parents learned quite quickly I was going to find my own way of doing things. They let me discover on my own how to do something. I learned to tie shoelaces differently than my peers. As a child, I played violin and took piano lessons.

I did get people staring once in awhile and in junior high I had Michael from Las Vegas tease me about being the "one-armed bandit" (i.e. like a slot machine). Even today if people or children ask "What happened to your hand?" I tell them that is the way God made me. I tell them all the things I can do. I can tie shoelaces, drive a stick shift, do cartwheels, type 45 wpm and gloves and manicures are 50% off. If I ever get arrested, I can escape. You got to have humor in life!!

As an adult, I haven't let being born with one hand stop me. I have  jumped out of a perfectly good airplane at 13,000 feet, gone up in a P-51 Mustang, Red Baron Stearman Biplane, KC135- Refueling Tanker Plane, drove 60 laps around Phoenix International Raceway in Indy-sized car, been a pit crew member for the day at Slick 50 200 Indy Races, drove Lamborghini really fast, finished 4th as the top female finisher in Manzanita Dirt Car Race, certified fire journalist with the Phoenix Fire Department, professional pet sitter, Administrative Assistant, writer, snorkeler, photographer, volunteer, tour guide, mother, wife and mentor.

Attitude is everything no matter if you have a limb difference or not.  I learned how to do things differently. It may have taken me longer but I found a way to achieve. Children adapt. I had no idea what it was like to  have a hand. I had no comparison. When I was about 9, my parents asked me if I wanted a prosthesis and I said no. I told them I would have to learn how to do everything all over again that I already knew how to do. Getting a prosthesis is a personal choice. Sometimes they do make a difference and others times they end up in the closet. 

Life is too short!