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A 7-year-old girl born without any arms doesn’t need a hand when she brushes her hair or eats at the table — she simply uses her feet.

Sophi Green, who lives with her parents, Christianne and Jeremy, in Herriman, Utah, was adopted from China when she was 2 years old and has since put in the necessary legwork to live her life like any other little girl.

Sophi GreenBarcroft ImagesSophi GreenBarcroft Images

Christianne recalled the first time she gave Sophi an ice cream cone and she instinctively used her toes to feed herself the tasty treat.

“I was ready to feed it to her and I held it out and she just snatched it up with her little foot and started eating it all by herself,” Sophi’s mom told Barcroft Media.

“We were just completely amazed and knew from that point that she could just do anything.”

Sophi’s father said his daughter is her own best teacher, and commended her ability to acclimate to nearly every situation.

“People will often ask, ‘How did you teach her to do this or that with her feet?’ The answer is we didn’t teach her,” the proud dad said.

Sophi Green as a babyBarcroft Images Sophi Green as a babyBarcroft Images

“She has learned to adapt in so many ways. She writes very well with her toes. She draws and colors. She brushes her teeth, she can wash and brush her hair,” he said.

Sophi’s strength and dexterity are even more surprising because she was not only born without arms, but also without a fibula bone in her right leg.

Jeremy and Christianne were concerned that Sophi would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life.

Sophi has managed to overcome most of her challenges.

She was heartbroken when she couldn’t participate in arm exercises with her peers in her ballet class.

But Sophi’s parents arranged for the talented twirler to have one-on-one classes with a dance instructor. Now she choreographs her own steps while her brother plays the piano.

“The hardest thing for me to do is to keep my balance. I get hurt and cry sometimes when I fall and it’s really hard,” said Sophi, who is also familiar with fending off curious stares from strangers.

Sophi used to get embarrassed in school often, but soon learned creative answers to questions from her classmates and now has many friends.

“One things she gets asked a lot is ‘Why don’t you have arms?’ and sometimes she’ll say, ‘I buried them’ or ‘A shark ate them’ and they’ll laugh and it defuses the situation a bit,” her mom said.

Sophi GreenBarcroft Images Sophi GreenBarcroft Images

“When people make hurtful comments or stare a lot, she typically shuts down and there have been a few tears where she has to cuddle up and she’s said, ‘I just want to be able to do things the same way as other children,’ but as time has gone by, she’s gotten more confident and doesn’t let it bother her as much,” she added.

Sophi is an inspiration to other children with disabilities, including her adopted sister Lexie, 11, who is blind.

“They are so cute together,” their mother said. “Lexie acts as the arms and Sophi acts as the eyes.”

Sophi said she hopes her story will inspire parents to adopt from overseas and encourage others to overcome their obstacles.

“Don’t let anyone stop you from doing something you really love,” Sophi said.

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Sophi Green and her adoptive parents, Christianne and Jeremy GreenBarcroft Images
Sophi Green as a babyBarcroft Images
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Sophi Green as a babyBarcroft Images
Sophi Green and classmates
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A fridge magnet given by Sophi Green to her adoptive parentsBarcroft Images
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