In case you missed it, Jordan had an article written about him in the local paper, the Deseret News. If you follow me on Facebook or are a close personal friend or family then you probably saw it. I still like to document these things on here, since this is basically our family journal.
Here's the link:
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700134650/13-year-old-is-a-hero-to-family-friends.html
Here's the article for people that don't like to click links:
13-year-old is 'a hero' to family, friends
WEST VALLEY CITY — The next time you're feeling a bit down, in need of a perk-up, here's the perfect remedy: head to Jordan Roblyer's house.
There you'll find the affable 13-year-old going through his regular routine: telling jokes, playing video games with his friends, baking another delectable s'more pie or helping his parents wash the dishes and weed the flower beds.
He does all this despite muscular dystrophy and a cleft palate requiring that he wear a metal "halo" to realign his jaw.
Completing the simplest of tasks — from brushing his teeth to putting on socks — is a challenge for the Monticello Academy seventh-grader, "but he never gives up," says Jordan's father, Matt Roblyer. "He's a hero, but don't tell him that. He's uncomfortable with the attention and sees himself as any other teenager. From the beginning, he's tried to get as much out of life as he can."
Impressed by Jordan's courage and positive outlook, his great-aunt, Pennie Kirby, suggested that I join him and his family for a Free Lunch at their West Valley home, where Jordan has been holed up for weeks because he can't risk falling or being bumped at school while his jaw heals after another surgery.
"He never complains, even though his pain is off the charts," says Kirby. "He's simply a fine young man."
Jordan wasn't happy that his aunt put him in the spotlight, but he agreed to a visit as long as I brought along some mashed potatoes and gravy from KFC — one of the few favorite foods he can eat with a mouth full of metal.
"My parents are what get me through," he says as we gather around the kitchen table in his family's modest brick rambler. "They taught me that there are kids out there with more to deal with. I guess it's just easier to enjoy life than to complain."
It's a philosophy that Jordan picked up from his mother, Diana, who also has muscular dystrophy and now uses a wheelchair to complete daily tasks.
"I have to stay positive for Jordan," she says, "because even though the path ahead is difficult, there are still fun things he can do in life and so much to be grateful for."
Her eyes fill with tears as she remembers the day her son was born: "He had all 10 fingers and all 10 toes — we immediately loved him. We knew that he'd need a lot of surgeries for his cleft palate, but we were hoping he would be spared MD. My mom and grandma also have it, but it's the kind that usually doesn't develop until you're in your 40s. It's very rare that Jordan got this so young."
Now that he's having more difficulty keeping his balance, Jordan's doctors have gently suggested that he get a wheelchair like his mom's, "but I'm not ready," he says. At school, he refuses to sit on the sidelines during gym class, choosing instead to lie on the floor and attempt a few push-ups or sit-ups with other students.
He goes to Scout camp, plays percussion instruments for the school band, dreams of becoming a professional chef and enjoys dining out with friends in his quest for the perfect cheeseburger. At home, says Matt, "he has the same chore chart as his older sister. He can be stubborn, but that's what gets him through. We don't give him any short-cuts."
Jordan flashes his dad a look of pretend anguish. "Yeah, but I still want that riding lawn mower, Dad."
No doubt he'll be mowing the front lawn with one this summer. "He never gives up and that's what people love about him," says Matt. "Every day, we feel blessed to have Jordan in our lives."
We were very surprised to get a call from Cathy Free, saying she wanted to do an interview about Jordan. We decided not to tell Jordan until the day of the interview because he reacted just as we expected.... basically flipping out because he doesn't see what the big deal is about his life, "he is just busy living it!" Jordan also pointed out that there are people in our lives that deserve the title of "hero!" And he named some people we know, I thought that was really sweet of him and the fact that he can see other people's struggles and difficulties says something about Jordan's character. In the end, Jordan agreed to talk with the reporter and we had a nice lunch, (I guess if you consider KFC nice, but Jordan was on food restrictions at that time and loved mashed potatoes so he was n heaven!)
