Meet JR-The Hero Who Inspired It All

A Rocky Start

JR was born on November 14, 1990, at United Hospital Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia, after an emergency Cesarean section due to complications during delivery. From the moment he entered the world, he faced incredible challenges. He was born with a fractured nose, an enlarged liver and spleen, internal bleeding, and a severe congenital infection. After spending his first days at United Hospital Center, JR was transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Ruby Memorial Hospital, where he spent the first two weeks of his life fighting to survive.

Despite those uncertain beginnings, JR continued to prove everyone wrong.

Raised primarily in the Lumberport and Shinnston communities, JR attended Big Elm Elementary School before transferring to Gore Middle School because it was one of the few accessible schools in the area. He later graduated from Lincoln High School on a modified curriculum.

Fun & Favorites

If you know JR for even five minutes, you’ll quickly discover four things that describe him best: country music, WWE wrestling, McDonald’s and..."scary"!

 Country Music & Cowboys

Music has always been one of JR’s greatest joys. Even as an infant, it could calm him, motivate him, and make him smile. Today, you’ll usually find him listening to his favorite 90s country artists. His love for country goes beyond the music—JR loves cowboys, rodeos, and almost never passes up an opportunity to wear a cowboy hat. In fact, he has dressed as a cowboy for Halloween more times than anyone can count.

 WWE Wrestling

JR has been a devoted WWE fan for as long as anyone can remember. His weeks have always revolved around Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, and he rarely misses a show. Whether he’s cheering for his favorite wrestlers or talking about the latest match, wrestling has been one of his greatest passions throughout his life.

 McDonald’s

Because of his autism, JR has a very limited food palette. Chicken nuggets and french fries have always been his go-to meal, and McDonald’s is his absolute favorite. If he could eat there every single day, he would probably tell you he was living his best life.

 Halloween & Scary Movies

No one loves Halloween quite like JR. Costumes, haunted houses, scary movies, monsters—he loves it all, and nothing ever seems too scary. Halloween has always been his favorite holiday, and he eagerly counts down the days until October every year. Maybe that’s because after everything he’s overcome throughout his life, there isn’t much left in this world that could truly spook him.

 The Little Things

JR also participates in Challenger Baseball and Challenger Basketball. He loves being around people and has a gift for making others smile. Many people know him as the birthday song guy because he never misses an opportunity to record and post a personalized birthday video to help celebrate someone’s special day.

Funny, ornery, thoughtful, and sometimes a bit cantankerous-JR has a way of leaving a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

Diagnoses, Therapy & Medical Journey

Shortly after birth, JR was diagnosed with Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Cerebral Palsy. As he grew older, he was also diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Beginning as an infant, JR has participated in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy—services that continue today to help him maintain his mobility, communication, and independence.

Around the age of two, JR became a patient at Shriners Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, where he remained under their care until adulthood. Throughout the years, he underwent numerous orthopedic procedures designed to improve his mobility, including surgeries on his heel cords, hip muscles, knee alignment, and feet. These procedures dramatically improved his ability to walk, and our family truly believes that without Shriners’ care, JR may not still be walking today.

JR has also been treated for a seizure disorder, wears hearing assistance due to significant hearing loss in his left ear, depends heavily on the hearing in his right ear, and relies on his glasses because CMV can affect the brain’s ability to process vision. Thankfully, although he has visual impairment, he was spared the blindness that many children born with congenital CMV experience.

Challenges & Limitations

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition, and although JR has accomplished incredible things, the physical challenges never disappear.

Maintaining balance, muscle control, and mobility requires ongoing therapy and hard work. As he grows older, those challenges continue to increase. Arthritis from previous surgeries, hearing loss, and the progression of cerebral palsy mean that he will likely require additional mobility assistance in the future, including the possible use of a wheelchair for some activities.

Even on difficult days, JR continues moving forward with determination.

Overcoming Every Obstacle

Perhaps the most remarkable part of JR’s story isn’t the medical diagnoses—it’s his attitude.

When JR was born, doctors and nurses gently suggested that our family not even place his birth announcement in the newspaper because they believed his chances of survival were extremely small. They thought it might spare us additional heartbreak if fewer people knew he had ever been born.

More than three decades later, JR continues proving them wrong.

He lives with pain that most people never see. Between cerebral palsy, arthritis from multiple surgeries, and now gout, there are very few days that are truly pain-free. Yet if there’s a Challenger baseball game or basketball game, he’ll put on his braces, step onto the field or court, and give it everything he has.

JR has never viewed himself as incapable. He has never expected special treatment or looked for excuses. He simply wants the same opportunities that everyone else has—even if those opportunities require a few modifications along the way.

His determination, resilience, and joyful spirit inspire everyone who has the privilege of knowing him.

To our family, JR is so much more than a diagnosis—he is a brother, a son, a teammate, a friend, and a constant reminder that courage isn’t measured by what you can do, but by the determination to keep showing up with a smile. We hope that after meeting JR, you’ll understand why he has touched so many lives and continues to inspire everyone who has the privilege of knowing him.