Everything started when I was in my mom's belly. I felt the love coming from her heart. Even though the doctors said I wouldn't make it, she believed on me. She gave me birth been 27 weeks pregnant. She said: He could. He can. He will do it!

There was a time when my mom couldn't repeat the same words any more. So, while I was in the incubator, for 3 months, with so many health complications, and generalized infections, with brain injury, with no strength to be breastfeed, she found a way to cheer me up. She gave me strength to survive, by making up lullabies songs with customized lyrics, just to encourage me: "you are perfect, you can breathe well, you are strong and intelligent. Fred, you could, you can, you do it! "

I was 3 years old and I couldn't walk, just crawl. One day my Mom called for me and I cried saying: "No, I cannot get close to you, I can’t walk!" She said to me: "yes, you can get close to me! Come on, in your way, come on over here, because you could, you can and you do it!

My very first challenge was being able to run together with thousands of children, who could walk and run, in a kids fun run. I said: "Mom, I won't win! Look all those children that can run without a walker frame!" My Mom said: "I don't expect you to win, but I expect you to cross the finish line. Say it to me, son: "I could, I can, I do it" so I did it. 10 years later I’ve already done 36 fun kids fun runs, I’ve got 36 medals!!!

Sometimes, to be different could cause other kids lots of weird feelings. All my teachers are so nice to me, though one of my school mates said to me: you are insignificant Fred, you are so retarded, you are so... I started to cry, I felt rejected and I couldn't understand why Tony didn't like me...

Me and my Mom began to talk about it. Day by day I became more interested to understand Tony. Finally, I understood the bully, he has broken heart and couldn't put up with me being loved by my colleagues. I thought I would never get over that rejection feeling then I thought, "I could, I can, I do it "

Here I am, playing, studying, smiling because I'm alive!!! And you know what? I'm walking in my way, using one cane. Because I could, I can, I do it!!!