Meet Juan!
Juan is an 8-year-old boy with a gentle spirit and a soul that has touched everyone who knows him. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy and microcephaly due to prenatal exposure to the Zika virus, Juan’s journey has been anything but ordinary. At just six weeks into his mother’s pregnancy, doctors noticed that his head was smaller than expected. Despite the difficult prognosis and many challenges that followed, Juan has become the heart of his family — an angel who has taught them the true meaning of love, patience, and resilience.
Although Juan functions at an infant cognitive level and has limited vision, he finds joy in the simplest things. He loves the contrast of black and white blocks and responds with delight to soft music and the playful voices in cartoons. His parents often play these shows for him, and his laughter fills their home with warmth.
Juan recently began making intentional sounds, a small but miraculous sign of his desire to communicate. Though he has no trunk or head control, and sleeps up to 12 hours a day, Juan is deeply loved and cherished. His family describes him as beautiful, a blessing, and a source of profound inspiration.
Juan is in need of a wheelchair to help support his daily activities, and allow him to spend some time out of his bed. Juan’s story is one of quiet strength, deep faith, and unconditional love.