Joshua - Richmond, Texas

Glad to let loose at grandparent's lake house Josh gets along with everyone. Even as one of two children at Dad's company chili cookoff.

I would like to share a story with you about my son Joshua. He was born in 1994 with an underdeveloped right hand. Once when he was about 3, he held up his left hand and asked, "What is this?" "That's your left hand," was my reply. He held up his right hand and asked, "What is this?" "That's your right hand," I told him, expecting more questioning. He stood there a second, compared the two, shrugged his shoulders and went on about his business. Since then he has never questioned the difference. Only once when he first started Kindergarten did he have a problem with other people. He wanted to know why everyone kept asking him what happened to his hand all the time. I asked him what he was telling them, and he said "I just tell them that I was born like that." "So, what is the problem?" I asked. In full drama, with hand to forehead and all, he said, "It just gives me such a headache." It was difficult, but I kept the giggling down to a minimum. We have not treated him any differently than we would any other child with two "big" hands, and, I think, it has been the best thing for him. Most people don't notice anything different about him unless they have come in contact with someone with a hand difference in the past or they are a kid. This is a child who can go to Mc Donald's and be best friends with whoever is already playing there by the time we have to leave. It doesn't seem to matter how old they are, or what their gender or difference is.

We decided to let Josh choose an extra curricular activity in Kindergarten. He chose Tae Kwon Do. I thought it was a good choice because it would give him some extra confidence and training to help him deal with the taunting that I thought would eventually become part of his life. They initially pampered him by helping him with his gear, but eventually he got to where he could put it on by himself and even faster than other children. At one of the testings, one of his classmates brought a guest. The boy was so "taken" by Joshua's hand that he kept pointing it out to everyone. The majority of the kids were ignoring this kid, but one piped up and said, in a rather monotone voice, "So? He's always been like that." I was proud of the classmate for that response. Josh is so good about just being a regular kid, that I had forgotten that other kids could react to him this way. Josh either didn't hear the comment, or was ignoring it. Either way, he didn't show that he was effected. He usually wears his emotions on his sleeve, so I believe that it would have shown if he'd been hurt. He is now a First Degree Decided Black Belt through the ITA at the ripe old age of 8. He's also in second grade and he's learning to tie his shoes. He's letting me write this to you in hopes that he can inspire someone else. PLUS he's in love with the idea of having a "story" about himself where other people can read it. Kelly and Hector

This is my sister Brianna. Sometimes we fight, but we play well together more often than not.

To communicate with Joshua send an email to his parents.

If you want to be a SuperHands Kid or Hero, or know any inspiring stories that would be a benefit to this site's viewers, please send me an email. Thank You!