Joseph Tidd is a 21-month-old has a congenital condition which led him to be born with a partially formed left arm.
“Symbrachydactyl is the condition. He was born this way. Found out at 18 weeks pregnant, but it happened around the 4-week mark before most people know they are pregnant. When we first found out, we were so heartbroken thinking, ‘What did I do to cause this?’ Even though it was not something we did,” Joseph’s mother said.
Joseph’s condition is being aware by many people through the Instagram account that his parents created for him. “We found the Lucky Fin Project which connects those with limb differences and supports the community. We hope this brings awareness to limb difference and the Lucky Fin Project. We hope it shows the world that Joseph and others with limb differences are not limited or disabled. They are just differently-abled,” his mother explained.
A lot more people found out about Joseph when they saw a photo of him and Orlando Pride defender Carson Picket which went viral across the web.
The photo was taken the previous month during Pride’s football matches. Joseph’s mother took a photo of the touching scene when Picket, who was also born without a forearm, came up to fist bump Joseph. Her actions overjoyed Joseph and he couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.
“We connected with Carson at the Orlando Pride home opener. The Orlando Pride made sure we have a bit of time with Carson and the two bonded. Since that meeting, we have gone to several games and after each game, Carson comes over and the 2 just giggle, hug, fist bump and act like long lost buddies,” Joseph’s mother said.
Joesph was thrilled to meet Carson. “You can see the moment that Joseph pauses, the look on his face changes…he is thinking hard as he’s studying Carson’s arm. Then the joy that washes over him as he realizes ‘she’s just like me’. The smile and giggle followed by the unprompted desire to show his arm to Carson,” his parents wrote on Instagram.
We hope that this interaction brought happiness and dreams to his present and future self.