A professional dancer and actress who was born without her left hand has defied the odds to become the very first New York City Rockette with a visible disability.
Sydney Mesher, 23, was missing her left hand at birth due to a rare congenital condition called symbrachydactyly, which doctors discovered during a routine ultrasound.
As soon as they found out their daughter would be born with a limb difference, Sydney’s parents Lynn and Page were determined she would never be treated differently because of her disability.
Her father even removed his wedding ring and placed it on his right hand as a sweet sign of solidarity.
“I was taught to never feel like I was different in any way or that my limb difference would stop me from doing anything any other little girl could do,” Sydney tells New Idea.
“My parents just decided to raise me normally, which I am. I am completely normal. Obviously there are some adaptations in my life, but it’s just the way I do things. They never raised me with the mindset that I was disabled.”
This story is from the October 19, 2020 edition of New Idea.
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This story is from the October 19, 2020 edition of New Idea.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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