Jessica Cox, armless pilot / A piloto sem braços

Jessica Cox, por um raro defeito de nascimento, não tem braços.

Graduada em psicologia, ela consegue escrever, dirigir automóvel, escovar os cabelos e falar ao telefone usando somente os pés.Eis aí um belo exemplo de superação.

Moradora de Tucson, Arizona, ela também é ex-dançarina e faixa preta em Taek-Won-Do.

Ele fala que nunca diz "Não posso fazer isso. Apenas digo que ainda não tentei". E explica que nasceu assim, e aprendeu a se adaptar. Diz que seus pais nunca a fizeram sentir-se diferente. "Outras pessoas sempre olhavam para mim ou faziam comentários, mas eu transformava sentimentos negativos em algo positivo. É isso que me faz seguir em frente."

A única coisa de que ainda tinha medo era voar. "Eu me sentia aterrorizada e fascinada por voar até onde consigo me recordar."

Há três anos, diz ela "Um piloto, representante da Wright Flight me perguntou se eu queria tentar voar sozinha." "Achei que ele era doido, e já teria medo suficiente se tivesse braços".

"Mas ele insistiu que eu adoraria, e então eu passei a ver isso como meu mais recente projeto".

Jessica aprendeu a voar no avião Ercoupe, que não tem leme, no qual somente se necessita das mãos para controlá-lo, em lugar de ambos os pés e mãos. Ela levou três anos, em vez dos seis meses normais para conseguir seu brevê de avião leve, teve três instrutores de vôo e 89 horas de prática.

Jessica Cox agora treina para tornar-se instrutora de vôo, a fim de poder ajudar outras pessoas deficientes a voar.

Jessica Cox suffered a rare birth defect and was born without any arms.

The psychology graduate can write, type, drive a car, brush her hair and talk on her phone simply using her feet.

Ms Cox, from Tuscon, Arizona, USA, is also a former dancer and double black belt in Tai Kwon-Do.

She said: "I never say, 'I can't do that'. I just say, 'I haven't worked it out yet,'" said Jessica. "Putting my hair in a pony tail and rock climbing are still on my list. Those rubber hair ties get me every time."

She explained "I was born this way so I've just learned to adapt." "When I was born my parents were shocked. But they never made me feel like I was any different.

"Other people always stared at me or made comments but I turned negative feelings into something positive. It's made me very driven."

The only thing she was afraid of was flying.

She said: "I've been terrified and fascinated of flying for as long as I can remember. "I remember at school I couldn't go on the swings or monkey bars because they were impossible for me to play on.

"I used to shut my eyes and imagine myself flying over the playground like Superwoman instead."

She grew up worried every time she had be an aeroplane passenger.

But three years ago she was given the chance to overcome her fears. She said: "A fighter pilot, who represents the charity Wright Flight asked me if I'd like to try flying one myself.

"At first I thought he was nuts. I would have been scared enough if I had arms, let alone without them.

"But he kept insisting I would love it and so I started to see it as the ultimate challenge." She learned to fly in rudderless light Ercoupe aircraft, where you only need your hands to control it rather than both hands and feet.

She took three years instead of the usual six months to complete her lightweight aircraft licence, had three flying instructors and practiced 89 hours of flying.

She said: "The first time my instructor let me take the controls I remember being terrified but I was hooked immediately.

"Most people were encouraging - but some thought I was taking a dangerous risk. I had to be very determined and persistent.

"It took me three hard years to complete - but it is the most fantastic feeling in the world. Ms Cox is now training to become an instructor - so she can help other disabled people learn to fly.

"There are so many ways that disabilities can make people believe that they 'can't' achieve their dreams," said Jessica, who has not used artificial arms since was 13. "But I'm evidence that you can."