A GERMAN woman born without legs and with deformed hands lives a life fuller than most could ever imagine.
A medical condition since birth led her to need her legs amputated in her teens.
Hülya Marquardt, 41, who resides in Stuttgart, was born with split hand/foot malformation, an unusual genetic disorder.
Standing at just over three feet tall, her lack of limbs has never slowed her down. She is a wife, mom, fashion boutique owner, and prominent disability rights activist.
“By the time I was six years old, I’d had already undergone 21 operations to try to improve my mobility,” Marquardt said.
“The surgeries were somewhat successful, allowing me to walk with the help of metal pins inserted into my legs to straighten them.
“But when I was 18, one of the screws in my legs came loose. I developed an infection that quickly escalated into sepsis.”
To save her life, the doctors were left with no choice but to amputate both her legs above the knees. The amputation left Marquardt with stumps barely long enough to fit prosthetic legs.
“I remember thinking, ‘This can’t be the end for me’,” recalled Marquardt.
“I had already adapted so much throughout my life. I just told myself, ‘You’ve got to keep going. There’s always a way forward.'”
Doctors predicted Marquardt would have to live in a care home. They didn’t believe she would be able to use a manual wheelchair, given her hand deformities.
But Marquardt had other plans. Instead of accepting a life of limitations, she decided to adapt and make the most out of her situation.
“I learned to walk on my hands, use a skateboard for mobility, and even drive a hand-controlled car,” she shared.
“I secured an office job and managed to live on my own.”
But Marquardt story doesn’t stop there. In 2014, she met her now husband, Dennis, who worked as a high school teacher. The two fell in love and traveled the world together.
“My whole I’ve had ‘cripple pride’,” Marquardt admitted.
“I wasn’t going to let my disability stop me from living my life. I wasn’t going to let it define what I could or couldn’t do.”
In 2019, Marquardt and her husband discovered they were expecting a child.
“I was aware that people might question my ability to be a mom, given my physical condition. But I knew I could be just as capable a parent as anyone else, just in my own unique way,” she said.
When their son, Rangi, was born in May 2020, Marquardt’s approached motherhood with the same resilience and creativity that had defined her life so far.
Instead of relying on others, she found ways to care for her son independently.
From breastfeeding to changing diapers, Marquardt did everything an able-bodied mom would do.
“I used a custom-made basket on wheels, made by my father-in-law, to transport Rangi around the house while I crawled on the floor,” Marquardt said.
“I didn’t want Rangi to miss out on anything because of my disability.”
As Rangi grew into a toddler, keeping up with him became more challenging. Yet Marquardt adapted once again, using her skateboard or walking on her hands to play with him.
“People would stare at me when out and about with Rangi, but I never let it bother me,” Marquardt said.
“I knew they were curious, but my focus was always on my child and ensuring he had the best experiences possible. I want him to grow up seeing that you can do anything, no matter the challenges.”
People often see me crawling or using a skateboard and think there’s no dignity in that.
Hülya Marquardt
Beyond her role as a mom and wife, Marquardt is also a fierce advocate for disability rights.
She uses her platform on social media, particularly Instagram, to share her experiences and raise awareness about the challenges and misconceptions surrounding disability.
With over 212,800 followers on TikTok and 295,000 on Instagram, her social media pages are a source of inspiration for many.
“There are many misconceptions out there, and I want to break them down. I want to show that we’re capable and strong and deserve the same opportunities and respect as anyone else,” she continued.
Marquardt is also a prominent figure in the German disability community, where she fights for greater accessibility and equality.
Her message is clear: disability is just another aspect of human diversity, not something to be pitied or shamed.
“People often see me crawling or using a skateboard and think there’s no dignity in that,” Marquardt reflected.
“But there is dignity in living your life on your terms, in not letting society’s expectations limit you.
“We need more accessibility and more understanding — but most of all, we need to change how we view disability.
“My body might look different, but that doesn’t make me any less capable or less worthy of living my life to the fullest.”
