A determined four-year-old with cerebral palsy stunned both his parents and medical staff as he stood unaided for the very first time in order to perform a spot of karaoke.
Adorable River Dove London had never stood on his own before this moment, but when staff at Key to CP in Rochester, New York, handed him a microphone, the youngster stiffened up and made his way to his feet to begin singing his favorite song – “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” from the hit Disney movie The Lion King.
River’s parents, Jessica London, 34, and Timothy London, 38, said they were “shocked and amazed” by the moment – luckily capturing one of their child’s firsts on camera.
Both River and his twin brother Zachariah have cerebral palsy, and parents Jess and Tim, both from Australia, have been traveling the world in order to find therapy for them.
©Ordinary Extraordinary / tt-creative.com – River, his dad and twin brother, who also suffers from Cerebral Palsy ©Ordinary Extraordinary / tt-creative.com – River all grown up
River was also born with a rare condition called Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, as well as being deaf.
The youngster now has a cochlear implant that allows him to hear, and mom Jess said that since the implant was activated, the four-year-old just loves to sing – particularly tracks from the Lion King, which he has never watched all the way through because of the “scary parts.”
As well as bringing friends and family to tears, the video of River signing and standing received a great response on the couple’s YouTube channel, Ordinary Extraordinary, which documents the twins’ journey.
The couple also hope that releasing such videos will raise awareness of the work carried out by the likes Key To CP, a program for adults and children dealing with cerebral palsy.
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Jess said: “I was shocked and amazed!
“His zeal for life really comes through on this video, but I couldn’t believe how his body stilled and he could do this.
“There were lots of tears from our community, and from our online community huge love and encouragement.
©Ordinary Extraordinary / tt-creative.com – River performing a Lion King hit on the karaoke machine 
©Ordinary Extraordinary / tt-creative.com – River performing a Lion King hit on the karaoke machine
“Also, because we have weekly YouTube channel, lots of people know River and his story so just are over the moon to see this.
“River is a one in a million kid.
“He was born very early and very sick, has a rare syndrome called Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and has cerebral palsy.
“But regardless of these labels he is incredibly adventurous, funny, affectionate and the most determined person I have ever met.”
Story courtesy of T&T Creative Media
