This is about an 11 year old boy, the most amazing I have ever encountered. Let me tell you his story and invite you to send him a message of support on comments to this post.
In 2012, at the age of 4, Reagan suddenly experienced massive, unending series of seizures. Hospitalized, the doctors found he needed immediate, extreme brain surgery.
He survived, but lost the use of his right side. Doctors didn’t expect a lot of recovery. After all, a piece of his brain that affected the right side had been removed.
And so began his fight. This kid has more strength than I think any of us can imagine. Just watch this linked video (click “Watch on Vimeo” if necessary.)
Reagan decided to really fight, and joined a triathlon for kids. He swam with one arm. He ran with only partial use of his right leg. He came in last in both categories, but he just wanted to finish. When it came time for the biking part — AFTER he did the other two — the triathalon committee said “Wait, he’s using a back wheel attachment so he can maintain his balance, since his right side is still partially paralyzed? DISQUALIFIED!”
(His mom got in their faces, and as you can imagine, tore them to shreds until they reversed.)
Yesterday, he began working in a special program set up for war veterans who lost limbs. Yes, this 11-year-old boy is fighting alongside adult veterans, who until now were the only people who qualified for the program.
Despite his amazing perseverance, though, Reagan needs support. Kids at school tease him because he wears a brace, limps, does not have the manual dexterity to play video games or use a phone. He feels like he’s different, in a bad way. Sometimes he questions why he has to work so hard when the end result is he feels separated from his peers.
We know little kids can be cruel and dumb. So watch this video and tell Reagan what YOU think of him in the comments below. Let him know what the future holds for him in terms of how people — not little kids — will think of him.
And before you watch, break out the tissues. You’ll need them.