Resourceful Claudio Vieira de Oliveira knows more than
a thing or two about overcoming adversity.
Medics told the now-37-year-old’s mother to let him
starve to death after he was born with a rare condition of
the joints that left him with severely deformed limbs …
and an upside-down head.
But despite his physical limitations, Claudio, from
Monte Santo, Brazil, has defied doctors’ doubts to
become an accountant and inspirational public speaker.
‘Since I was a child I’ve always liked to keep myself
busy and work – I don’t like to depend totally on other
people,’ he said. ‘I do a bit of accounting, research for
clients and consulting.
‘I have learned to turn on the TV, pick up my cell phone,
turn on the radio, use the internet, my computer – I do it
all by myself.’
Claudio types with a pen held in his mouth, operates
phones and a computer mouse with his lips and has
specially made shoes that allow him to shuffle around
town.
His independence saw him succeeding at school and
qualifying as an accountant from the State University of
Feira de Santana.
When Claudio was born, doctors told his mother Maria
Jose he would not be able to survive.
Maria Jose said: ‘People started saying ‘the baby is
going to die’ because he could barely breath when he
was born.
‘Some people would say: ‘Don’t feed him, he is already
dying’.
‘But there’s only happiness now. Claudio is just like any
other person – that’s how he was raised in this house.
‘We never tried to fix him and always wanted him to do
the normal things everyone else does.
‘That’s why he is so confident. He is not ashamed of
walking around in the street – he sings and he dances.’
At eight years old, Claudio, who had previously been
carried everywhere, began to walk on his knees.
WHAT IS ARTHROGRYPOSIS?
Congenital arthrogryposis is a rare condition that
causes curved joints in several areas of the body at
birth.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not a deformation of the
joints themselves, but one of the tissue that surrounds
them, thus fusing joints in place.
It is caused by a number of factors, including lack of
space in the uterus, muscle abnormalities, nerve
abnormalities, blood circulation problems and maternal
illness.
The condition is present in about one in every 3,000
babies and is usually detected before birth.
Treatment options include physiotherapy, splinting and
surgery.
His family had to change the floor of the house so he
could walk around without injuring himself.
Claudio’s bed, plugs and lights had to be made lower so
that he could do things for himself without asking for
help.
He cannot use a wheelchair because of his unusual
shape, making it hard for him to be independent outside
the home – but he begged his mother to be allowed to
go to school and learn with the other children.
Doctors have recently diagnosed him with a rare
condition called congenital arthrogryposis.
They believe he has multiple joint contractions in his
legs and arms which mean they cannot extend properly.
Claudio said: ‘Throughout my life I was able to adapt my
body to the world. Right now, I don’t see myself as
being different. I am a normal person.
‘I don’t see things upside-down. This is one of the
things I always talk about in my interventions as a
public speaker.
‘Nowadays it’s much easier to deal with the public, I’m
not afraid of it anymore and I can say that I am a
professional, international public speaker and that I
receive invitations from all over the world.’
He is not the only person with the disease who has
refuse to let it overcome his life.
In February, MailOnline told the story of Leanne
Beetham who became a celebrated photographer and
artist whose paintings of wildlife – which she creates by
holding a paintbrush in her mouth – have sold for
hundreds of pounds.
Miss Beetham, who has a degree in applied animal
behaviour, uses paint and graphite to make her images,
which can take more than eight hours to complete at a
sitting.
In 2006 one of her paintings was sold for £750 at
Christies

worldduh.com/2014/09/01/how-the-baby-born-with-the-upside-down-head-has-defied-doctors/

i pray 4 him.

weird.

accountant and motivational speaker?...

Good great God!!!

Barring all circumstances, this should make front page
And I am here

The 1st day I read about him online,what crossed my mind was.."How does he breath,eat,talk or write". I thank God he's alive and doing well. God is great! This is another reason Y I thank God every morning 4 creating me d way I am.

Lots of us who thinks that we have the greatest problems, should have a rethink. As pathetic and weird as the guy and his story may seem trust me, he is still better than someone somewhere..that's life.

They should have inject him...just punishing this dude

Holy Jesus