Born Without Arms: Inspirational Mother and Son Live Life to The Full
The interview revolves around Linda Bannon and her son Timmy, both of whom suffer from a rare condition that caused them to be born without arms. Despite their challenging
circumstances, these mother and son from Illinois, USA, never allow their disabilities to hinder them from living a fulfilling life.
Both Linda and Timmy have Holt Oram syndrome, an uncommon condition that occurs in 1 in 100,000 individuals. Linda also faces heart issues. Nevertheless, she led a normal life while growing up.
In 2003, Linda met her future husband Richard, and when she became pregnant, doctors informed them that their child could inherit Linda’s condition. Despite having the option to terminate the pregnancy, they chose to keep the baby.
Timmy faced severe heart problems shortly after birth. He underwent surgery at just 8 days old and spent his first two months in the intensive care unit.
Despite the challenging early years, Timmy refused to let his disability hinder his growth. Both mother and son avoid using prosthetic limbs and believe that their disabilities do not impede them from activities such as cooking, dressing, or playing video games.
Linda and Richard lead independent lives, with Richard assisting Linda when needed. At school, Timmy is treated like any other student and is accepted by his peers without much notice of his special needs.
Outside of managing Timmy’s busy sports schedule and working as a kindergarten teacher, Linda also aspires to help others with similar conditions. She’s taking business management classes to establish a nonprofit organization that supports families with children like herself and her son.
Linda acknowledges that Timmy will face challenges in the future, but she remains hopeful that he will learn to live with his condition and lead a happy life, much like her own. Linda’s main concern for Timmy is finding companionship and support in the absence of her and Richard. They hope he will find someone who can provide care and assistance, just as they do for each other.
