PROUD MUM: ‘Having no arms doesn’t stop my daughter living life to the full’

Christianne Green couldn’t be prouder of seven-year-old Sophi, who refuses to let her disability get in the way of her dreams

espite being born D with no arms, Sophi Green loves to dance, ride her bike and play with her dolls, just like any other seven-year-old girl.

She uses her feet to do everything, including writing, using a knife and fork, brushing her teeth and washing her hair, and proud adoptive mum Christianne, 39, says Sophi’s an “inspiration.”

Christianne, who lives with husband Jeremy, 43, in Utah, US, and has 10 children ranging between seven and 17 – including seven adopted children with disabilities – says: “Sophi’s just like any little girl. She’s fiercely independent and wants to do everything herself – she’s such a joy and so spirited.

“We’ve adapted our house – her light switch for her room is near the floor, and all the door handles are levers so she can open them with her chin. Sophi has learnt how to use her feet and chin to do everything.

“She goes to a normal school and often gets asked what happened to her arms, and sometimes she’ll joke that “a shark ate them.”

ADOPTED FAMILY

After marrying in 1998, Christianne and pharmaceutical salesman Jeremy had three biological children: Taylor, 16, Parker, 15, and Jessica, 12, before deciding to adopt in 2007.

Christianne, who was an infants’ teacher before becoming a full-time mum, says: “I tragically had two stillbirths, but wanted one more baby to complete our family, so we looked into international adoption.

“We realised there were so many children with special needs who were being overlooked, so we adopted Elli, now 11, who is blind and has severe autism. Initially we were worried if we’d be able to cope, but once she was home, we fell in love and all our worries faded.”

They went on to adopt six more children with special needs such as spina bifida and epilepsy – Graci, now 17, Cali, 15, Conner, 15, Xander, 11, Lexi, 11, and the youngest Sophi, in 2010 – when she was just two.

TAUGHT HERSELF

Christianne – who lives in a seven-bed house adapted to her children’s needs – says: “We were concerned when we first adopted Sophi – we didn’t know anything about her parents or why she was born with no arms and was missing a bone in her right leg, so doctors didn’t know if she’d ever walk.

“She had a wheelchair initially, but she proved everyone wrong. She taught herself to walk and would feed herself using her feet. Her aunt made her an armless doll, which she loved.”

However, there are some challenges. Christianne reveals: “She can’t play on the monkey bars, and sometimes she gets upset that she can’t dance like the other kids, but now she has one-on-one lessons and has a specially adapted bike. She has to be careful because she’s more prone to falling over as it’s harder for her to balance. There have been a few tears, but she never dwells on what she can’t do. Nothing will prevent her from achieving her dreams.”

Sophi says: “I like dancing and making up routines. I never let anything stop me doing what I love.”