Joseph Walding is a remarkable boy—intelligent and charming, with a great sense of humor and phenomenal wisdom. More courageous than most adults can ever hope to be, he successfully tackles challenges that would test anyone.

Born almost nine years ago, Joseph had no apparent health problems until he began to walk. At that time his mother, Debbie, noticed that his knees seemed too flexible and his balance was less stable than his older siblings’ had been at the same age. When she asked Joseph’s pediatrician if this was a problem, he replied that everything seemed fine, yet Debbie and Mike Walding were not convinced. Their repeated questions were reasoned away by those they consulted until Joseph reached age three. Still unsteady on his feet and with his legs bowing, Joseph finally was diagnosed with pseudoachondroplasia. A rare form of dwarfism caused by a random genetic mutation, it is characterized by complete double jointedness and does not affect the individual’s head, as other forms of dwarfism do.

Joseph’s limbs are shorter than usual, but that is not what bothers him; it is the bowing of his legs and the pain that accompanies it. To counter this Joseph has had several surgeries to stabilize his legs. To start, his parents chose the least invasive surgery option. Performed by Dr. Jay Cummings, metal plates were attached along both outside edges of Joseph’s tibias (the larger bones of his lower legs) to provide socket-like guides for his thigh bones. When the desired results were not achieved, a more aggressive surgery was performed by Dr. Eric Loveless. A system of exterior rings and struts and interior rods—fixators—were installed to direct the angle of the bones. His legs successfully straightened, the fixators have since been removed, and Joseph stands straight and without pain. A competitive swimmer, Joseph will now also be a faster swimmer.

Joseph has this advice for patients in need of the same surgery: “You are going to be scared at first, but it’s going to get better. Your legs will hurt at first, but that will go away. It was worth it. My legs don’t hurt any more! And I don’t wobble as much.”

Debbie and Mike Walding share the perspective of parents going through this trying experience: “It made such a difference that the surgery was here in Jacksonville. And the nurses were attentive and compassionate. We feel so blessed to have this hospital here. We don’t know how to express how we feel about Dr. Loveless, and how amazing it was to see the transformation of Joseph’s legs unfold before our eyes,” says Debbie. Mike adds, “The whole hospital experience was awesome. When Joseph was leaving after his surgery, everyone came to say goodbye. And Dr. Loveless always asked what Joseph wanted to do—if he wanted to have the surgery, and he wouldn’t do it if Joseph didn’t want it.”