September 28, 1979 in Detroit, Michigan...... It was supposed to be what doctors and nurses thought would be another normal delivery of a baby. Although the labor went pretty well for Kimberly (my mother), she needed a C-Section just as she did with her first son. Come time of the operation, doctors and nurses prepared for hopefully another healthy baby. But her actual delivery was a surprise to them. Although the baby seemed to be healthy, something else became a big concern. My mother didn't know what was going on with her newborn for the doctors immediately took the baby away for more observation. After a little while, she became hysterical not knowing what was going on with her son. The doctors returned with some news that would change her life forever. The doctors told her, “your baby boy is healthy, but there is something that we need to tell you. He was born with what we call Quadrimembral Limb Deficiency.” Not understanding what the doctor was talking about, he explained in more detail. “Your son was born with arms that only go to the elbows, he has no hands nor fingers, his legs are also much shorter than normal, and his feet are not like ours, he only has three toes.” When they brought me to my mother, she was just happy that I was in her arms and was a healthy little baby. From that day forward, started my journey to life.

     Since it was over 20+ years ago, they didn't have the equipment that they do these days to predetermine that there was a problem. So they did a lot of testing to both my mother and father and found that this was just an “act of God.” Not only did they do a lot of testing on them, they used me as a guinea pig to determine the cause since there were very few born like me. From day one, they prepared my parents for the worst. The physical therapist and doctors told them that it was most likely I would not be able to do things like “normal kids” do. They said I wouldn’t be able to go to a regular school, drive a wheelchair, and definitely never walk. My mother was disgusted by what they told her, she felt in her heart that no matter what I may and may not be able to do, I was still her son and we would get through it. And get through it we did, we proved them wrong from the start.

     When I was seven months old, I was fitted for prosthetic arms, which was a big mistake. These arms were so uncomfortable and heavy that my I hated having them on. But the therapists insisted I keep them on all the time and said “I would eventually get use to them.” But because of them, I eventually had to undergo nine surgeries throughout my life because the bones in my arms started to grow through my skin.

     When I was three, I had my first chance at independence. The students of the University of Michigan built a power wheelchair especially for me. But once again, the doctors doubted my ability and told my parents that I probably wouldn't be able to drive the wheelchair, I proved them wrong. I got into it and for the first time I felt free, not having to depend on anyone else to help me get around. I drove that thing like a pro. I was one of the youngest kids to ever drive a power wheelchair.

     As a child, I didn't see myself as a person with a disability, I saw myself as a “regular kid.” I never let my disability take away from my life. Any obstacle that was put in front of me was almost always overcome. I went to a regular school and had “normal kid” friends, I wrote and drew things by putting the pencil between my chin and shoulder, and I got around in my wheelchair. It wasn’t untill I was about five or six when I finally realized I was different. But I had a talent, a talent to draw and a talent to make people laugh and smile. People would stare and kids would say things, but that was OK. All I would have to do was show these people that I was no different from them, aside from my visible differences. Soon after a few minutes of talking with me, my disability faded.

     When I was 15 years old, I found out that with enough money I would be able to drive a van. This would be my goal for the next three years. I had to come up with $36,000 just for the adaptations that needed to be made to a van. When I turned 18 I had already financed the van, but I just needed the money for the adaptations. Then a government sponsored group, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, gave me half of the money. The other half of the money was raised for me by four Detroit Red Wings, at an autograph signing. Again, I shocked the world by being one of the first people to drive a vehicle with a disability as severe as mine.

     One day hanging out with some friends, I met this beautiful girl named Carrie, and we started dating. We dated for about nine months and I knew in my heart that she was the one that I wanted to marry. On Mothers Day 2000, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. Today we have a beautiful, healthy son (Noah) who was born in 2001 and happens to have no dissabilities.

     I am a currently a web designer, that is how I use my artistic ability. But now I seek more out of life. I want to put my personality to use becoming an actor, movie director and being a motivational speaker. I want to show the world that they should put their problems behind them instead of in front of them. I lived my whole life by setting goals and accomplishing them. And when my latest goals of becoming an actor, movie director and motivational speaker are accomplished, you won’t have to ask me, believe me you’ll know.