We all have the power to live life to the full

THERE are two things I love in life, well actually three: sport, technology and family. Within these three aspects, each has allowed me to see a world of possibilities I never thought existed. They have enabled me to understand myself in a way others may not have.

Sport, and in particular GAA, has allowed me to develop new friendships and has given me a passion for interacting with others. Through the GAA and sport in general, I feel I have become more involved with my community. This loving of sport or being part of something special and unique has allowed me to understand that I, too (if I put my mind to it), can achieve my goals.

Technology is my next love. Downloading new apps, playing my Playstation and discovering how to do all these things with no limbs, often has me wondering about the dream to live independently.

Don’t get me wrong. I can do most things myself and I fail the first time, I try the second, or perhaps the third, until eventually I succeed. It might be as simple as opening a Kinder Egg. But sometimes I do sit and wonder how I can use technology to become more independent.

This is why I set the world a challenge to build me a robot. Who would have thought 16 years ago that one day my dream could become a reality, but it is my passion for living life and having a determination to succeed, that brought me to this place.

Finally — family. These are the very people who make you and arguably (sometimes) break you, but without them in my life, I would not be doing and achieving what I am today.

My mother and father have always been there cheering me on, supporting my every move. Picking up a pen, holding a fork, feeding myself and learning how to do things without my limbs has all been down to them. For 16 years they, and my other brothers and sister, have given me incredible happy memories. That is why, on Sunday week, when I walk down the red carpet to the Cork Opera House to see the premiere of my documentary No Limbs No Limits I will be proud to walk down with them, my extended family and others, safe in the knowledge that against all the odds I have come this far.

Because we all have the power to live life to the full, and we all have the power to succeed.

It is just we also need the power to believe in ourselves — even when the odds are stacked heavily against us.