Young Man Suffering From Cerebral Palsy Overcomes All Odds To Achieve Goal
By Steve Patterson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The only way Christian Matkovitch can communicate is by being bold.
"Christian does things in a big way: if he laughs, he body laughs. If he cries, he body cries," said his father Bob.
His dream since six years old, like his father and two brothers before him: become an Eagle Scout.
But the first thing you'll notice about Christian, is the one that often matters least.
"That's what he wanted. Despite his limitations," said mom Mary. "He expressed the desire and his dream is coming true."
Christian wheelchair bound with the most severe form of cerebral palsy there is.
"He has a fully functioning brain inside a body that doesn't work at all," Bob said.
Tough road for a guy trying to earn the highest honor in scouting.
"Some people tend to focus on the wheelchair and not on the person," said Mary. "That's the first thing we have to get past."
Christian got past them all: attending every meeting, going on every camping trip, sacrificing comfort for sheer determination.
For all that, Sunday, He achieved his life's work: Christian is the 89th Eagle Scout in Troup 481.
"If I could hug him to death I probably would," Bob said.