Born on April 7, 1965, in Burton, Staffordshire, England, Alison Lapper defied expectations by being born perfectly healthy but with a distinctive characteristic that would shape her life – she lacked arms, and her legs were shorter than normal. Not initially detected by her parents or doctors until her delivery, Alison’s journey is marked by resilience and artistic triumph.

Abandoned by her parents in her infancy, Alison spent her early years in a handicapped school, surrounded by children who shared similar physical challenges. She reflects on this time, saying, “We were several children without limbs, as a result of the thalidomide wave. It was difficult for us to acquire balance. We couldn’t sit without falling over, and we were unable to get up. Then, they took us and placed us on a plaster plinth.

We were show kids.”

Attempts were made to implant artificial arms and legs in Alison since she was three months old, but she found them uncomfortable and cumbersome. By the age of 12, she truly understood her disability, transitioning from childhood to adolescence. Despite the challenges, Alison pressed on, aspiring to be a painter.

Undeterred, at 19, Alison traveled alone to London, graduated in Fine Arts, and went on to become a renowned painter. She started painting at the age of three, using her mouth with small, sharp movements of the head. Her unique painting style gained recognition, earning her England’s highest decoration, the Member of the British Empire (MBE), presented to her by the Queen herself.

Throughout her life, Alison faced exclusion and rejection due to her differences, but she embraced the positive aspects and forged ahead. At the age of 33, she became pregnant, facing abandonment by her boyfriend. Despite doubts and fears about her child inheriting her deformity, Alison chose to move forward, giving birth to a beautiful boy whom she raised and cared for single-handedly.

Now that her son has grown up and can assist his mother in various tasks, he sees her as a superhero. In her honor, English artist Marc Quinn created a sculpture titled “Pregnant Alison Lapper,” which stood in Trafalgar Square from 2005 to 2007, symbolizing her resilience and triumph over adversity.