I came into the world too early.
A tiny bag of bones covered with only skin.
But my father’s friends said I was a keeper. 
Weighing in at one pound, nine ounces and just barely a foot long.
Imagine me as the size of six sticks of butter.

I was a fighter from day one.
Constantly trying to pull out my breathing tube. 
After several days they gave in to my fight and let me breathe on my own.
I lasted two whole weeks before an infection brought it back.
A few days later, I happily and finally got to say goodbye.

My little and big victories were celebrated with much fanfare.
A new announcement on my incubator bragging to the world I gained 2 ounces.
From the nurses caring for me, to the doctors doubting me.
I took all the poking and prodding in stride.

Imagine being fed milk by an eyedropper at first.
My stamina increasing as well as my hunger; finally drinking out of a bottle.
My lungs gasping for air like a fish out of water. 
Steroids were the ticket to help me grow and soar higher and higher.
At 5-½ pounds and five fortnights later I finally won the battle.
I broke free of the chains they called; the NICU.

At age three, a very special lady named Suzy came into my life.
She told my parents that she thought I had CP.
She noticed that I walked on my toes like a ballerina.
But I would face my CP head-on like a ram.  
In the end we all knew I would not let it win.

Many appointments later; too many to count.
Enduring long needles full of Botox into my legs.
Leg braces just like Forrest Gump’s.
In my early years of school explaining how sometimes my muscles wouldn’t work. 
I took on Physical and Occupational Therapies like a champion.
Guiding my legs, my hands and even my eyes.

As time went by I wanted to learn more and more.
I became the student always raising my hand, ready with an answer.
Just like Arnold Horshack from “Welcome Back Kotter”.
I may not have excelled on the fields of play.
I challenged myself though in learning how to ride a bike.
I expanded my mind and crafted my imagination.
Even creating my own heroes and their epic stories.

That’s how I started in this world to become the person I am today.
Showing the world that a boy who first started out so tiny and sick. 
Can grow, learn and change those around him; both family and friends.
Proving that a disability SHOULD NOT be a limitation.
To truly become one day an Unlikely Superboy.