Boy born without arms defies odds

Nine-year-old Joe Renfro is not like other kids.

He may know that, but try telling him he can't do something; and he would prove you wrong.

Renfro, a Green River resident, was born without arms and hands. He was also born with some bones missing in his legs and one leg is shorter than the other, but he has never let that stop him from participating in any activity he wants to, including swimming, horse back riding, go-kart driving and now bike riding.

Katherine Jetmore, Joe's mom said they did have a diagnosis for what Renfro had, but later they discovered that diagnosis did not fit him. He has normal brain function, which is why that diagnosis didn't fit, she explained. 

Jetmore said they could spend money and find out what exactly Renfro's diagnosis is, but why spend all that money. A diagnosis isn't going to change him.

When recalling Renfro's birth, Jetmore teared up.

"They prepared us for him not to live," she said. 

Although Renfro entered the world two weeks before his due date, he was fully developed at 3 pounds, 6 ounces. She said he would have been a normal weight had he had arms and hands, she said.

At the time, Jetmore didn't know what to think; and recalling it brought back painful memories. She said she and her significant other have two other children together and they are normal. The only way she and the doctors could explain it was she and her significant other's genetics aligned perfectly for the worse.

She said despite all of the negatives that Renfro may have been given, he continues to defy what doctors said he wouldn't be able to do - walking is one of them. However, even this had come with a price. Renfro also was diagnosed with scoliosis, which is a sideways curvature of the spine. Renfro's walking is only making his scoliosis worse, but that doesn't stop him for doing it. Jetmore said his back is almost shaped to a C now and fears that one day her son may not be able to walk.

Putting this aside, Jetmore said one thing her son loves is school. Renfro is a fourth grader at Truman Elementary School.

"Math is his favorite subject," she said. "He is the center of attention at school."

Renfro uses his feet to write. Jetmore said even when Renfro was young, he quickly started using his feet as if they were hands. Basically all of the things someone would do with their hands, Renfro does with his feet, including writing.

"He taught himself," Jetmore said. "His determination is incredible."

As for the other students, they love Renfro's personality and are always asking the teacher if they can write with their feet too. They are just amazed at what he can do, she said.

"It's legible," Jetmore said about her son's penmanship.

When Renfro isn't at school he is busy playing his X-Box or participating in activities.

"He plays X-Box just like any other kid. Just with his feet," Jetmore said.

However, the gaming doesn't end there. She said her son also enjoys playing against other people online. She said sometimes he beats adults and they have no clue he is only 9 and playing with his feet.

Although he likes video games, Renfro also enjoys being outside.

This summer he was one of the children who participated in the Forward Stride therapeutic program, which allowed him to learn how to not only ride a horse, but give the horse commands and steer the horse with his feet. He was able to grab the reins with his feet and make the horse go the way he wanted it to.

"He gets to do stuff that not everybody gets to do," Jetmore said. "This program makes them feel like they are on top of the world."

"He doesn't let anything stop him," Jetmore said. "He played indoor soccer and did really good."

Lately, Renfro has been asking his mother about the possibility of getting some robotic arms.

"He's just so young. I don't want him to go through so many surgeries," Jetmore said. "At this age we want him to keep working with what God gave him."

Jetmore said it is a tough decision, but she knows the robotic arms would be really heavy for her son; and as he grew he would need to get new robotic arms, which could require even more surgeries.

Over the years, Jetmore has learned a lot and doesn't look at things the same.

"If (people) do have a child like this, it's not the end of the world," she said. "Life goes on and they will be fine."

Fundraising efforts allow

for bike purchase

"When I was born, my great-grandmother started a fund to help purchase items that I may need to make my life easier and more enjoyable," Renfro said in a letter.

He said every year his great-grandmother makes a quilt; and then raffles it off. All of the money raised goes to buy something he might need or enjoy having. The fund is called Wings for Joe.

This year, the money raised from the raffle went to purchase a bike for Renfro.

On July 23, Renfro's birthday, he was presented with a bike, which is actually shaped more like a trike. Jetmore said they saw a news article about how Shriners would build bikes for kids with handicaps; and got in touch with representatives from the organization. They quickly found out that Shriners would pay for half of the bike, but they would need to raise money for the other half.

"I have always wanted to ride a bike like other kids and now I can," Renfro said in a letter. "I want to thank all the people who have bought raffle tickets to raise money for my new bike."

Jetmore said he was ecstatic when he received the bike.

"It's his first bike ever," Jetmore said. "He was just so thrilled."

For the first time in Renfro's life, he was able to just get on a bike like his siblings and go for a bike ride. Jetmore said it just gave him a great way to go places with his siblings. She said what is really great about the bike is it can be adjusted as he grows. 

"He will be able to use it until he doesn't want to," she said.

Renfro pedals with one foot and steers with the other. Jetmore said with his one leg being shorter than the other he is actually able to a lot more than others who don't have arms and have two same-sized legs. She said he uses one leg to hold a piece of paper and the other to write. It is the same way with most of the activities he participates in.

As Renfro continues to grow, other items of necessity start to appear. This year, the family is going to raise money for a walk-in shower.

"He is getting bigger and heavier very fast," Jetmore said. "There are a lot of things that he can't do himself."

One of those is taking a shower. Jetmore said they recently moved into a different home and that home doesn't have any walk-in showers, only bathtubs. Not only is it hard on her back getting him in and out of the tub, but Renfro would much rather take a shower by himself.

In an effort to raise enough for a bathroom remodel, once again Renfro's great-grandmother has made a quilt to raffle off. This quilt is purple and teal and raffle tickets are six for $5. Residents can purchase the tickets from Jetmore or from Barbara at the Golden Hour Senior Center's Craft Fair, which will take place later this year. The winning ticket will be drawn on Dec. 15.