“He always has a smile,” Kendrick Rupp’s mom says of her adopted son. He was born 13 weeks premature weighing 1lb 14oz. Now 12, Kendrick lives with disabilities including fetal alcohol syndrome, cerebral palsy, ADHD and difficulties walking. He overcomes these obstacles with the support of his family.

After raising three children between them, Steve and Lori Rupp knew that there was room for one more. At the age of two, Kendrick became that missing piece in their life.

“He’s brought so much more to us than we could’ve brought to him,” Lori says about her son. Through nine surgeries, continuous rehabilitation and other everyday challenges, Kendrick continues to be a kid.

Kendrick Rupp watches his favorite shows like The Backyardigans, Thomas the Train and Barney, on his laptop computer. He is 12, but due to his premature birth and its effects, his mental age is of a 7-year-old.