Watch Man Born With A Rare Condition Skateboard Like A Pro!
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A man who was born with a rare condition that cost him half of his back and rendered him unable to walk has opened up and revealed he enjoys his life to the fullest despite not being able to use his legs.
30-year-old Ernie Ibarra was born with Sacral Agenesis, also known as Caudal Regression Syndrome, a condition that prevents him from being able to use his legs.
In addition, the man was also born with only one kidney that operates at just 3 percent, causing him to experience constant back pain.
While the man from Phoenix, Arizona, never had much luck when it comes to his health, his life is fulfilling and he tries to stay positive at all times.
Ernie is not only a full-time worker but also a loving husband, a father-of-two, and a professional skateboarder.
“I have never met anybody like me before. It’s pretty rare what I’ve got,” the 30-year-old said in an interview with Barcroft TV.
“I walk on my hands and my feet are a lot smaller than what they should be. But you know what, I stay happy by looking at the things I have in life and seeing how far I have come.”
To cope with the constant pain, Ernie switched from regular medication to medical marijuana, a decision he has been standing by for years.
“Regular medication was making me feel really sick. So I switched things up and used medical marijuana instead. Smoking the cannabis actually really helps,” he added.
“It takes the edge away for me, you know. I’m able to get through the rest of the day and do whatever I need to do. And yeah, then I’m happy. I always like to be the funny guy in the group, or the crazy one. And without the pain, I can be that.”
Despite not being able to walk on his legs, Ernie has a passion for skateboarding that gained him the nickname ‘krazie legz.’
“I only use my wheelchair when I’m at work or I’m going on a night out with my wife,” the father-of-two admitted.
“And the best thing is, I actually love skateboarding. It’s always been a massive part of my life. I got my first board when I was three. Now, I’m 30 and I’m still learning new tricks that I’ve never accomplished before.
“It makes me feel good. Skateboarding has really helped to improve my self-confidence.”
While growing up wasn’t too hard due to having great friends who defended him from bullies, Ernie became truly happy after meeting his wife, Vanessa Ibarra, who loves him for who he is.
“I met Ernie in some apartment that we both used to live in. He had just moved in. I thought he was a cute guy. I didn’t know anything about his condition when we first met,” the 29-year-old explained.
“I haven’t really noticed when people have made fun of him over the years. I get upset when Ernie does sometimes because these people are often just curious.
“I think what made me fall in love with him, was his personality. He loves me a lot and I like that he loves me a lot. And of course, he is just so good with my two kids. He has been there since forever and helps me a lot. They are two crazy boys and he helps keep them in control.”
And as it happens, Vanessa isn’t the only one in the family who feels great love for Ernie.
“My dad inspires me a lot. Sometimes we go skating and he inspires me to do tricks I never thought I could do. I love him very much. On a scale of 1-100, 100,” their son added.
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