Grace Matthews, a 19-year-old from Norwich, has become a professional pianist despite having her fingers and lower legs amputated after contracting meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia at the age of four.
She appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain, where presenters Kate Garraway and Tom Swarbrick were impressed by her story. Grace has also featured on Channel 4's The Piano, where she showcased her self-taught technique.
Self-taught technique and inspiration
Tom explained that Grace plays the piano every day using a method she developed herself. Her love for music began when a music therapist played the accordion to her in hospital.
Grace said: "I think she just really helped to take my mind off it, like everything that was going on, and I think it also really helped my parents as well, because everything going on in the hospital, like they were obviously quite scared."
She added: "And it gave us something to look forward to." A relative later gave her a keyboard, and she decided to learn to play.
Adapting to her condition
Kate described Grace's achievement as "inspiring" and asked how she approaches piano playing without fingers. Grace replied: "I think it's because I was amputated since quite a young age, I think it's really easy to adapt."
She continued: "I think because I don't really know any different, it's been easier to adapt than if I was to lose them now. I think I wouldn't really know where to start."
Recording a song
Grace admitted she doubted herself "a couple of times" but said she was "stubborn" and wanted to prove she could do it. She is now recording a song she performed on The Piano, which will be available to buy.
Good Morning Britain airs from 6am on ITV.
