Sarah Talbi of Brussels, Belgium, was born without arms. However, she never let that get in the way of living life as normally as possible, becoming a very independent child. She has learned to do everyday tasks like brushing her hair and teeth with her feet. She would eventually discover a passion for drawing and became an artist, posting her work on social media. She got married and in 2018, her daughter Lilia was born. Raising a baby has its own challenges already and with raising a newborn, Talbi found she had to ask for help.

“I was very afraid that I would hurt her, so her father was finishing most of the responsibilities,” she recalled of Lilia’s first three months. “It was especially difficult for me because as a mother I wanted a direct connection. It has never been a problem for me to ask for help with anything, but asking for help for my child has not been very easy. On the other hand, I asked for help from her father, who is happy to take care of her,” she said of her husband’s willingness to support her. As Lilia got older, Talbi found she was able to do more things for her on her own. “When she was about six months old, the responsibilities were easier, but I still needed a little help.” By three years old, Talbi was able to take care of her all on her own.

Although she had previously used social media to promote her art, she began to get questions about how she cared for Lilia. Having her struggles, she began sharing about raising her daughter, with the hopes of inspiring other mothers who were struggling. “I began to document my journey as I was frustrated to need some help to take care of my baby. So I decided to make those moments a creative moment,” she said. A video on Good Morning America showed how Talbi dresses Lilia and helps her brush her teeth. “Loving a child and being responsible is beyond everything, Some mothers struggle with so many other difficulties. I think we all have our own disabilities and barriers,” she said.

She soon found herself making a connection with thousands, and currently has over 100,000 followers on Instagram. “It’s really amazing that so many people are following me,” she said. “I like that today physical disability is shown in public and there is no drama about it. I want to show people that my life is as normal as theirs. I think my followers understand that. However, mine and their lives are not that different.”