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To say that KK does not let living with achondroplasia hold her back would be an understatement.
The 10-year-old is among the most active kids in her Louisiana neighborhood, counting soccer, swimming, cheerleading and horseback riding among her many hobbies. She goes fishing with her dad, rides ATVs and drives a golf cart modified with pedal extenders around their neighborhood.
“I do have achondroplasia, but it does not make me different from anybody else,” says KK.
That mentality is one her family has worked to instill in her since birth, even before KK was officially diagnosed with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism.
“The first day we brought her home, we knew we were going to treat her just like any other kid,” says KK’s mom, Jen. “And so, if there’s something that she wants to do, go for it. We’re all in.”
Supporting KK in trying new things extends beyond her activities to her healthcare as well. Her dad, Joel, notes that the family works with her healthcare providers to stay up to date on the latest care options for children with achondroplasia, giving KK a voice in any decisions that are made.
“We talk to KK really about anything that concerns her as far as her healthcare, really from a young age all the way up till today,” says Joel. “Her future is in her own hands.”
KK is still figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up, but her fearlessness is something she plans to hold onto throughout her life.
“My hopes for the future is to bless everybody and to be brave, and don’t give up, even when it’s hard,” says KK.
• Topics:
• Achondroplasia
• Community
• Patients
• Rare Disease
• Skeletal Conditions