0:49
- family
- March 5, 2019
4-year-old with spina bifida walks for 1st time
"She has so much grit. She's such a special little girl," her teacher said.
\"We were surprised by the views, but we weren't surprised by the love,\" Kenydii's, father Kenneth Parker, of Durham, North Carolina, said. \"We always knew she was a special child.\"
Kenydii's parents, Kenneth and Terry Parker, told ABC News that when they learned their seventh child would have spina bifida, they were completely blindsided. Spina bifida is a condition in which the baby's spinal cord fails to develop properly, according to the CDC, which can cause physical and intellectual complications depending on the severity of the child's case.
\"It felt like our world crashed down because the way [doctors] described it made it seem like the end of the world,\" Kenneth Parker said. \"We prayed about it and stood strong. We knew that whatever this child would go through, we would go through it with her.\"
(MORE: 'If you can’t stand up, stand out': These wheelchairs are works of art)
View this post on InstagramIf God is for me .. who can be against me ????
A post shared by Kenydii Parker (@itsme_kenydii) on Feb 27, 2019 at 7:05pm PST
Since then, Kenydii has had five major surgeries, two on her head and three on her legs, her dad said. Kenneth Parker said some of his hardest moments as a parent were when Kenydii told him that she wants to walk like the other kids.
\"Sometimes I have to leave the room and get myself together when she says things like that,\" Parker said. \"I never want her to think she's a pity child.\"
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Kenydii Parker (@itsme_kenydii) on Feb 28, 2019 at 8:06am PST
Despite all Kenydii has been through, Parker said she is always smiling.
\"Anybody that encounters Kenydii falls in love with her at first sight. She is always smiling, talking and laughing,\" Parker said. \"To some she may not seem like a perfect child, but she is perfect to us.\"
View this post on InstagramI got my first award “ The Unique Award “ #superEXCITED #spinabifida
A post shared by Kenydii Parker (@itsme_kenydii) on Feb 28, 2019 at 1:04pm PST
The Parkers enrolled Kenydii in a developmental needs pre-K class in November at W.G. Pearson Elementary School in Durham. Her two teachers, Katie McGonnell and Kim Tisdale, said Kenydii is \"a blessing\" to the class.
\"Kenydii is such a cheerful little girl -- always so happy,\" Tisdale told \"GMA.\" \"Her personality is so big. Much bigger than her wheelchair.\"
View this post on InstagramGood Morning#spinabifidafighter #itsme_kenydii
A post shared by Kenydii Parker (@itsme_kenydii) on Mar 4, 2019 at 5:36am PST
Along with Kenydii's big personality comes determination. After using a wheelchair for months after a major surgery, Kenydii was on a mission to take her first steps on her own at school.
\"She began walking in the hallway so we brought her outside so her classmates could cheer her on,\" McGonnell said. \"It was a really big day and so amazing to watch. It was her first day walking and you would've thought she'd been doing it her whole life.\"
Kenydii's father said his daughter will continue to thrive not only because of her personality, but because of her amazing support system both at school and at home.
\"Anybody who encounters Kenydii wants to help her because she has a good heart,\" Parker said.
\"The day after she walked in front of her class she was asking to do the stairs,\" McGonnell said. \"She has so much grit. She's such a special little girl.\"
Go Kenydii, go!
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