04.04.2026 16:21
Mehmet Temel, a 69-year-old father of two born without hands in Antalya, serves as an example to everyone with his determination. Sharing his life story, Temel said, "They told my mother, 'Kill this one, it will be a trouble for you. It has no hands or feet.' They left me under the cauldron. Days later, my father took me from the cauldron. When my daughter was 4 years old, she wanted to give me her hands and feet. That’s when I broke down."
Mehmet Temel, a father of two who was born without hands and lives in Antalya, has been stringing beads with his feet in the jewelry store he has run for years. Despite not having hands, Temel is able to manage many tasks in his daily life, such as shaving, eating, and even driving, all with his feet. He has been driving a specially equipped vehicle for years and does not fall short of skilled drivers. When he arrives at his workplace in Kaleiçi, Temel opens his shutter, strings his jewelry one by one with his feet, uses his mobile phone with his feet, and drinks his coffee. Customers who come to his shop are surprised to see Temel giving change with his feet after shopping. Temel, who states that he has worked in many jobs throughout his life, mentioned that he has done jobs like shoe shining and cassette work by going out of the city.
"MY MOTHER LEFT ME UNDER THE POT"
Sharing his life story, Mehmet Temel stated that when he was born, the neighbors around told his mother negative things, saying, "I was born in the highlands. The neighbors told my mother, 'Kill this one, it will be a trouble for you. There are no hands or feet.' They put me under the pot. Days later, they told my father, 'You have a son, but they put him under the pot.' When my father asked my mother, 'Where is the child?' she said, 'He died.' When my father asked, 'Where is the corpse?' she said she put it in the field under the pot. My father walked for 6-7 hours to find me. He wrapped me in his jacket and brought me to the tent. He said he would take more care of me than the other children," he said.
"I CLIMBED A TREE OUT OF JOY"
Temel, who explained that he could not walk until the age of 9, said, "When I asked why I didn't have hands and feet like the other children, I was upsetting both them and myself. My mother told my father, 'You take care of him a bit, I can't stand it.' My father took me and set up a tent in the apple orchard. We stayed there with my father every day. While sitting there, something happened, and I could walk. Out of joy, I climbed the tree there. I was screaming with joy. Actually, I couldn't climb that tree, but I climbed it out of joy," he said.
"MY HAND IS MY FOOT, MY CAR"
Temel conveyed that driving has an important place in his life, saying, "I could think of doing everything, but I never thought I would drive. I have been driving a specially equipped car for 50 years. This year, my driver's license was supposed to be renewed, but I couldn't change it right now. My hand and foot are the car. I want my driver's license to be renewed," he expressed.
"CUSTOMERS ARE SURPRISED WHEN I GIVE MONEY WITH MY FEET"
Temel, who hands money to customers with his feet, expressed that his customers are surprised, saying, "When I give money to customers with my feet, they are shocked, they think it's a prank. Once in Istanbul, I handed money to a ticket clerk with my foot, and he was shocked, saying, 'Was it a hand or a foot?' I told him it was a prank," he said.
"MY DAUGHTER SAID 'LET ME GIVE YOU MY HAND, MY FOOT,' AND I BROKE DOWN THERE"
Describing one of the moments that left the most impact on his life, Temel said, "Once, while sitting in the kitchen with my 4-year-old daughter, she asked me, 'Dad, why don't you have hands and feet?' I said, 'God created me this way,' and my daughter said, 'Let me cut off one of my hands and one of my feet and give them to you.' When I said 'no,' she then said, 'Let me give you both my hands and both my feet,' and I broke down there," he expressed.