A tiny two-year-old boy is making a big difference in the limb difference community because of his joyful attitude despite his disability.
Joseph Tidd, from Florida, has symbrachydactyly, a congenital disorder where his left hand and arm didn’t fully develop in the womb. But far from feeling limited by his disability, Joseph even nicknamed his stump his “lucky fin” after the movie Finding Nemo.
Watch this adorable boy and his lucky fin in the video below.
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Video credit: Rumble
Joseph’s mom Colleen, 29, and dad Miles, 40, weren’t sure if it was right to put Joseph on the Internet but they need not have worried as his Instagram account has garnered over 12.5k followers and his inspiring posts even went viral three times.
The doting parents have taken videos of their son’s meetings with other amputees and he has even met Orlando Pride’s defender, Carson Pickett, who has the same disability, as well as one-handed Seattle Seahawks player Shaquem Griffin. A video of Joseph fist-bumping a stranger, “lucky fin” to “lucky fin” also went viral with over 20k views.
Colleen said: “The nickname ‘lucky fin’ initially started when I reached out to my local organization which connects all different types of limb differences.
“The name came about from the movie ‘Finding Nemo’ – Nemo had a ‘lucky fin’ where one hadn’t grown properly.
“And he goes on to be the hero of the movie!
“The organization has meant the world to me.
“The day I found out Joseph was going to be born with one hand, I found Lucky Fin Project.
“It brought reassurance to know that Joseph will be just fine.
“Also, almost every kid has seen Finding Nemo, so it is easy for kids to understand Joseph has a ‘lucky fin’ like Nemo.
“Yet it took us a long time to decide to finally create a page for Joseph because we didn’t like the idea that ‘strangers’ could get a glimpse into our lives.
“But there was a part of us did want to create his Instagram account because we saw all the positive that came out of Joseph’s encounters with others like him.
“It brought so much joy to the world, and when that video of him meeting a complete stranger just like him went viral for the third time we finally decide to create an account.
“We knew we could help spread awareness, or simply put a smile on someone’s face by documenting Joseph’s journey.”
Joseph’s condition was diagnosed when he was 18 weeks in the womb. Colleen, a mother-of-three and sales director, had gone for a check-up to find out her baby’s gender and the revelation devastated her at first.
Colleen said: “I initially put blame on myself and really worried about what the future might bring.
“But eventually I stopped blaming myself and just wanted to know the cause – which is simply a lack of blood to the area during growth – so I could inform other parents.
” Yet once I realized I could help other parents, Joseph’s Instagram has reached people around the world.
“A lot have people have messaged us saying how inspirational Joseph’s story is.
” The best part is when someone who was born with a limb difference, or those who are about to have a child with a limb difference messages us.
“Most of them didn’t know there was a community out there for them, like the Lucky Fin Project so we really enjoy sharing the Lucky Fin Project with them.”
Colleen added: “Joseph is friendly with everyone but he really enjoys seeing others that are unique like him -he has an instant bond with them.
“We’re so happy we chose to share Joseph’s journey because he’s been able to spread joy with his viral video with one hand football player and one-handed soccer player Carson Pickett.
“Now my hope for Joseph is to always shine, even in the darkest days.
“There will come a day where he will get bullied, but I want him to continue to radiate confidence as he does now.
“He can do everything we do, just differently sometimes, as his siblings Alexa, 14 and Addison, 4 like to say.”
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