WASHINGTON — At a park in Ashland, Virginia, the sound of a guitar drifts through the air. The player — George Dennehy — uses his feet to strum each chord with effortless rhythm.

More stories From the Heart of It

“I like challenging people,” George said. “I like making people think and take a step back sometimes.”

To understand why, you have to step back into his story. George was born in Romania without arms .

“I wasn’t cared for. I was malnourished. I was neglected,” he said.

He was placed for adoption — and for a time, forgotten. Then, a family in Virginia found him and brought him home.

Even in a loving home, though, belonging wasn’t easy.

“I just felt very alone,” George recalled. “I didn’t feel like I belonged anywhere in this life.”

That began to change the day he decided t

See Full Page