“My parents didn’t know that I would be like this until my very birth. When they brought me to my mother's hospital, she was scared: “Take him away!” - says 25-year-old Australian Nick Vudzhichich in English. A man in a blue shirt with sewn-in sleeves and short black shorts. “I needed help around the clock. When at the age of 11-12 you are taken to the toilet - it's hard. I felt like a burden for my parents."
Nick was born without arms and legs. From the left thigh it has a small process in the shape of a foot with two toes. It pushes off by it, rolls over to the other side and moves like that. He has been traveling the world for six years, telling people about himself, trying to cheer up the disabled. Traveled in Australia, Africa, Asia and North America.
Ukraine became the first European state on his tour. At the end of July Vudzhychich arrived in Ternopil at the invitation of the public organization "Vidpovid".
A film about Nick is shown at the Juhnovic Hotel: Vudjicic rises from a low bed, slowly walks to the door, picks up a golf club with his teeth and hits the light switch in the room, turns on an electric razor and shaves. Then he cooks himself an egg.
Ternopolyan Mikhail Reznik brings Nick in his arms, carefully puts him on the table. The Australian says that Father Boris, an immigrant from Serbia, worked as a computer technician and has served as a church pastor for the last 25 years. Mother Dushka was a midwife. Vudjicic's younger brother works as a teacher, his sister is studying to be a nurse. All are healthy.
“Nobody felt my pain,” Nick continues. - I could go to a regular school in a wheelchair. Had a classroom assistant. I did everything that other children did, but in a different way. When everyone was cycling, I rode a skateboard. In football, he hit the ball with his head.
Vudjicic learned to swim at the age of 6. Two years later, he wanted to commit suicide.
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- I tried to drown myself in the bathroom, then threw myself down from the table. But I didn't get to the edge,”Nick recalls. - The hardest thing was when I was 10–12 years old, when my peers laughed at me.
He says that he likes Slavic cuisine.
- Mom often prepares Slavic dishes, and also Turkish coffee. In Ukraine, I liked the red soup (borscht - "GPU"). It's delicious, - adds in Ukrainian.
He says: in his youth he was depressed until he heard a biblical story about a blind man to whom God restored his sight.
- I prayed that my arms and legs would grow, but the miracle did not happen, - smiles. - If the limbs appeared, programs and films would be made about it. Many people would say that this is a composite shot and would not believe it. I have performed in front of two million people. And no one will deny that I sincerely smile and live a full life.
Nick lives in California. He rarely visits his home.
- I travel forty weeks a year, I am at home for a month and a half, - explains. - Then I go to the beach or loudly turn on romantic comedies on TV. I have a powerful stereo system. I would like to meet a girl like me. Already wrote love songs for her.
