<p>A baby who survived against the odds after being born with no arms and legs is now gearing up to start school in September.</p><p>Jasmine Self, 27, gave birth to little RJ despite being told during her pregnancy that he would be severely disabled.</p><p>At five months along, an ultrasound scan revealed her little one's limbs were not developing.</p><p>RJ suffers from tetra-amelia syndrome – defined as the absence of all four limbs, as well as severe malformations of the face, heart, nervous system, skeleton and genitals. </p><p>The condition is caused by a genetic mutation in a section of DNA that plays a critical role in development. </p><p>It affects just a handful of families worldwide and most babies who suffer from it die before or shortly after birth.</p><p>Upon hearing the news, Ms Self and her boyfriend Rondell Wilson were distraught but decided not to give up on their baby.</p><p>The youngster arrived in September 2018 weighing just 2lb 4oz (1kg) and spent the first two months of his life in intensive care.</p><p>And, against all the odds, the youngster is now thriving at his home in Florence, South Carolina.</p>
