Four years ago today, a little boy was born fighting to breathe. After making it through 16 weeks of (preterm) labor, he arrived in the world with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck – his saving Audrey being the fact that he wriggled his hands between the cord and his neck.
He fought through pneumonia at 2 days old. He endured a trach at 9 months to pull out a stuck penny in his esophagus. He had 15 ear infections in as many months, and then finally got tubes. He survived a full-arm cast at 18 months for over 6 weeks when he broke his forearm completely through. Not once would you have guessed this little boy was sick, hurt or suffering.
He was diagnosed at 26 months with autism. He has problems communicating, socializing, interpreting the world around him and behaving like the rest of us do.
He fights every single day. I see him take everything in, try to make sense of things that others might never notice. I watch him try to force himself to do things he really doesn’t want to do – things that scare him. Every day, this little boy wakes up and faces his fears head-on, and refuses to let anything get in his way. He never, never, never gives up.
That little boy is my inspiration. For four whole years, his entire life, he has fought for every tiny thing that he has. It is by sheer determination that he is even here; let alone the fact that he is where he is.
He is proof that life is what we make of it. He wakes up every day with a smile on his face. Imagine going out to battle every day with a grin that could melt the world. That is JT. He is ready, he is excited, and he knows he’s going to make the best of everything that comes his way. He loves to make others happy – in the midst of his crazy life; he wants everyone else to share in his joy.
JT has taught me that most things are accomplished through sheer determination and grit paired with a whole lot of persistence. He has given me a whole different perspective on life and what living really is. I know now that being different isn’t bad, and that conforming is completely overrated. Great things happen when we dare to be different.
Every day, that little boy goes out to fight, and I have the pleasure to be in his corner. He is the toughest person I have ever met.
I love you, baby JT. I believe that you will reach the stars. You are one special kid, and you will make a difference in this world.
To infinity and beyond little buddy!!!
Happy #4 - it will be your best year ever!!!
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