Two Acadiana boys bond over rare condition and drawing

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On Friday, we aired a story of an Abbeville boy overcoming obstacles from a rare condition affecting only 1 in 3,000 people.

Now, through the power of social media, that story has connected Kyrell Briggs to another Acadiana family dealing with the same condition that affects joints in the body.

"Can you teach me how to draw?" asked 8-year-old Kyrell.

He had never met another kid with arthrogryposis until Sunday.

Kyrell didn't have many questions for 14-year-old Deontea Henry, but the visit certainly made an impact on him. "The most exciting thing is that he drew all of this," as he motioned toward Deontea's drawings.

The boys bonded over drawing cartoons while their parents shared similar stories of perseverance and encouragement.

"I can see my son in him, like in some of the ways he moves and writes and stuff. It's just a blessing to know someone is so close by who's had the same struggles and learned how to adapt," said Kyrell's mom, Victoria Briggs. "I think it's more encouragement for Kyrell because he isn't walking independently yet. So, to see someone who is walking independently, it might help encourage him."

Sitting next to her was Kellie Henry, Deontea's mom, nodding as they realized the similarities.

"It is rare, and you need that support. Nobody understands unless they've really been through it. So, to have that in your life, it helps a lot to go through the surgeries, the therapies, and the tears that your whole family sheds," said Henry.

For her, finding out about her son's condition was not easy.

"[The doctor] told me that Deontea probably would not live, and if he would live, he would be non-functioning; he would probably break bones trying to deliver him; I was too young to take on that responsibility. It was just reason after reason to abort, and I just kept giving him reason after reason not to," Henry said.

That's something to which Briggs could relate.

"The morning following Kyrell's birth, [the doctor] walked in and said, 'Just prepare for a funeral; just prepare because I don't see him living longer than a month,'" said Kyrell's mother.

Now, the boys are standing tall together, cheering each other on and overcoming the obstacles thrown their way.

"And, we let them know they're not different; they just have a physical disability, but it doesn't stop anything they want to do," said Briggs.

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