Gainesville native overcomes challenge of short arms - Gainesville Times

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Gainesville native overcomes challenge of short arms

Bessie Woods uses her feet to write and cook

Gainesville woman Bessie Woods talks about her ability to cope with the disability she was born with. A medication Woods’ mother was given during labor caused Woods’ arms to stop growing. The Hall County native has learned to adapt throughout the years and live a fairly normal life, using her feet to perform many tasks such as writing, cooking and even driving a car. - photo by Erin O. Smith

0315BESSIE 0005 — Gainesville woman Bessie Woods talks about her ability to cope with the disability she was born with. A medication Woods’ mother was given during labor caused Woods’ arms to stop growing. The Hall County native has learned to adapt throughout the years and live a fairly normal life, using her feet to perform many tasks such as writing, cooking and even driving a car. - photo by Erin O. Smith

Her father’s simple act of placing a pencil between her toes when she was 5 years old set Bessie Woods on the path to independent living. “I started writing, and I’ve been writing ever since,” she said. “It just came naturally.