"When we walked into the emergency room at the University of Viriginia Hospital, the nurses grabbed Justin immediately and placed an oxygen mask on him," Lisa said.
"At one point he stopped breathing, which set the pulsating machine alarms off. I sat there and thought, 'I can't watch him die like this,'" Joey said. "When Justin was first born, I thought how can I adjust to being a parent of a handicapped child. But sitting there watching him near death all I could think was how could I live without him... how could I adjust to not having this son to take care of ?"
"I can't tell you how very scary it was," said Lisa, who described the situation as more difficult than when she was pregnant and first learned that something was wrong with her baby.
"Joey and I both just about lost it," she said. "We always told each other that when it's Justin's time to go, we'll let him go. But we weren't ready."
Neither was Justin. After a week in intensive care, he was able to return home to Whittier with his parents.
Justin is this year's March of Dimes Ambassador Child for Jackson County. His grandfather, Joe Smith, serves as the county chairman for this year's drive. Weighing in at 22 pounds, young Justin's picture graces posters throughout the county.
"My students have seen Justin's picture on posters at school and around town at the bank and stores and when they met him the other day, they told me, 'Coach, your grandson is famous,'" said Smith, a physical education teacher at Fairview Elementary School.
"One third-grade girl said, 'Coach, your grandson is so cute, but I feel sorry for him.' I told her not to feel sorry for Justin because he is happy," said Smith, who feels good that that his students care. "When I was little, my mom always told us not to look or stare at handicapped people. So it makes me glad when children take an interest and express their concerns. That's one of the reasons I believe so much in the March of Dimes becauses it strengthens public awareness."
Although he doesn't talk, Justin communicates by smiling and laughing. Little things like rubbing his head will start infectious laughter. When Smith takes Justin's legs, pulling them together in a strengthening motion, Justin laughs. When Joey enters the room and calls out to his son, Justin laughs. When Lisa feeds him his favorite food - creamed spinach - Justin laughs. As he reclines quitely in his carrier, suddenly Justin will burst out laughing.
"He's a happy boy. What can I say?" said Lisa.
"Some parents say they feel sorry for us having to raise a handicapped child. But there's nothing to feel sorry for. Our life is filled with joy. Justin is 3 1/2, and we never had to experience those terrible twos. He doesn't walk, so we don't have to run around and chase him. He's still just a cuddly, loving baby," said Lisa.
Raising a handicapped child can be rewarding, Joey is quick to point out.
"Lisa and I have learned at an early age what it takes some people a lifetime. We learned that love is what matters. You figure out real quick that the material things just don't matter," he said. "We've learned to enjoy what we have with each other. Justin has taught us what true, unconditional love is. And if you live your life through love, it brings out the pureness in people. We call Justin 'God's little messanger.'"
Joey said he and Lisa also learned "we've got what it takes. I never imagined I had the strength to raise a handicapped child, but now I know I can because I realize just what kind of inner strenth I have."
The young couple attributes much of their success to their loving, extended family - members of Webster Baptist Church.
"Our pastor, Mike Dillinger, even drove up to Charlottesville when Justin was in the hospital. Because I was out of work for a while, the church took up a love offering that paid all our bills that month," Joey said.
"And they brought us food when we came home from the hospital," Lisa was quick to add.
The church is also assisting with fund-raising for this year's March of Dimes Walk America 2000. Sylva's walk begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15, in the First Union parking lot. For more information, call Smith at 586-0286.
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Herald photo by Rose Hooper