This post was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Luvs. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.
Have you ever watched Bet on Your Baby? Bet on Your Baby is a game show (hosted by the wonderful Melissa Peterman – who stars in ABC’s comedy “Baby Daddy”, but also played a big part in Reba, which is where I love her from!) Anyway, the series premiered last year and it’s a hoot! Each episode features fiver families with toddlers between the ages of 2 and 3 1/2 years old who play to see how well they can guess their child’s next move in order to win money toward their college fund.
Well this year Bet on Your Baby will be partnering with The Children’s Miracle Network Hospital to host a special episode!
The show “Bet On Your Baby” will air 8 episodes between May 31-July 19 and features toddlers ages 2-5 competing against themselves in a series of tasks/activities. The Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals episode (airing June 14th) is going to feature Josh Miller and his parents Laura & Michael. Josh is 5 and was born without tibiae in his legs. He has prosthetic legs and has already had multiple surgeries in his young life, including heart surgery.
Keeping up with Joshua Miller isn’t easy, neither is keeping him down. Like the little engine that could, Josh never ever backs down from a challenge. It’s hard to imagine this strong little boy was at one time so fragile. His mom Laura was told during pregnancy Josh would be different. His condition: “Werner’s Mesomaliac Dysplasia With Hirshprungs. It’s quite a mouthful,” Laura tells me.
Josh was born with multiple challenges inside and out. His most obvious difference: no tibias. There was no bone connecting his knees to his feet, and he didn’t pop out with 10 fingers and toes. “Our son actually had 26 digits all together because he had 7 digits on each foot and 6 digits on each hand,” Laura explains.
“I’ve almost been through 8 surgeries. One was very difficult, Uhm heart surgery. I almost died, but i lived through it.” Josh remembers.
At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Cardiologist Jackie Szmuszkovicz explains Josh was born with a defect that blocked blood flow, between his lungs and his heart. Now that he’s recovered from open heart surgery, she marvels at how active he is today, “To me that’s the most important sign that his heart is doing well.
Laura still remembers living with the fear of all that could go wrong. Why didn’t it? “He hasn’t learned to feel sorry for himself. Hasn’t learned to be downtrodden,” she says.
On the contrary, Josh sees himself as a role model. He’s already competed in 3 triathalons to raise money for the Challenged Athlete Foundation., and he often meets with new amputees to showing them all that he’s learned to do.
You can reach out to Joshua via his Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/GoTeamJJ?ref=ts&fref=ts. For more on Children’s Hospital Los Angeles go to www.chla.org.
For more about Josh’s story: http://www.myfoxla.com/story/21483630/inspiring-4-year-old-boy-is-a-hero#ixzz2xs9J04CS
Come join Luvs for a Twitter Party during the special #Bet On Your Baby” Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals episode airing on
June 14th, 8-9pm EDT
Luvs Handing it Over to the Experienced Mom bloggers will be hosting the party while live tweeting the episode:
o Candy Kirby – @candykirby
o Kelcey Kintner – @mamabirddiaries
o Amy Sprenger – @snarkymommy
o Ann Imig – @annsrants
o Susan McLean – @nodomesticdiva
o Robin O’Bryant – @robinobryant
What an amazing family!! Children’s Miracle Network is doing an awesome thing. I hope to tweet on the 14th!