And then she decided to conquer yet another dream (which she also feared): flying. For 3 years, she trained to become a pilot. How the authorities would acknowledge her ability loomed over her, but she persevered and eventually got her license.
Three years later, the Guinness World Records acknowledged her as the first armless pilot who can safely fly and land a plane with her feet. “It seems impossible until it’s done,” Jessica said. And a year later, she married Patrick Chamberlaine. The two are happily married for a decade now.
Phocomelia Syndrome
As mentioned earlier, Phocomelia syndrome is a rare birth defect; it can affect one or both of the upper or lower limbs.
In many cases, a baby with Phocomelia syndrome has very short or missing bones for the limbs. Some babies also have hands or feet directly attached to the trunk.
Causes
What exactly causes a baby to be born without arms or legs? To this day, reports say the cause of Phocomelia syndrome is not well understood.
It could be an inherited condition based on genetic problems. Likewise, it’s also linked to the intake of thalidomide, a type of sedative drug widely prescribed during the 1950s and early 1960s to pregnant women to ease their morning sickness.
Treatment
When a child presents with Phocomelia syndrome, the priority is to identify and treat associated abnormalities, particularly in the heart and intestines.
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