Valuing fellow human beings equally, regardless of their race, religion, or appearance, could be argued as one of the most important things in this world.
My parents taught me to respect every stranger I meet until they prove otherwise. Judging someone based on their appearance or differences between us is cruel and inappropriate behavior. However, some people ridicule and belittle others, unable to see past their differences.
Joey Wittkugle’s story serves as a perfect reminder that not all books should be judged by their covers. Joey was counted out from the beginning, but his story shows how he defied all the odds. He was born with Down Syndrome, and the doctors were pessimistic about his chances of survival. The physicians told his mother, Bobbi, that he would never talk, walk, and even recognize her.
Despite the discouraging words, Bobbi decided to love her baby, even though she wasn’t completely sure what to do. She confided in a priest, who told her that she had been selected by God to have Joey. From that moment on, Bobbi never looked back, and she and Joey defied every obstacle in their path.
Joey turned 62 years old on June 29, 2020. His family threw him a birthday parade in his hometown, with all his favorite things like automobiles, trucks, motorbikes, and first responders there to wish him well. Joey was left in tears of joy at the parade, but he sat with a beaming smile on his face as the vehicles passed him. Bobbi, sitting beside him, planted a kiss on his cheek and said, “I love you.”
All children deserve to be loved and cherished, and we should embrace and welcome individuals with genetic abnormalities. Let us not turn our backs on them, but learn to love them as much as they love us. Share this heartwarming story on Facebook and send best wishes to Joey.