Mar 10, 2009 8:16 pm US/Eastern
Never Surrender: N.J. Girl Beating Spina Bifida
Told By Doctors She'd Never Live A Normal Life, 8-Year-Old Kaitlin Clutter Is Doing Just That ... And Then Some
Reporting
Cindy Hsu
RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBS) ―
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Kaitlin Clutter has had 12 surgeries to help her deal with spina bifida. But considering the early prognosis, this 8-year-old is hardly handicapped.
CBS
An amazing little girl has just been named New Jersey's Champion Across America, by the Children's Miracle Network.
Kaitlin Clutter was born with spina bifida, a malformation of the spine and spinal cord. Doctors gave her parents little hope for an active life, but she beat the odds and is now inspiring everyone around her.
Kaitlin was born with the most severe form the disease. Doctors told her parents she'd never walk or talk, but after years of intense therapy at Children's Specialized Hospital in Toms River, she proved them wrong.
Kaitlin is now 8. She walks with the help of braces and has a message for other kids who've been told what they can't do.
"I think that it's great that you never give up, and that you try over and over and if you can't do something just try again and be strong," she said.
On Tuesday she was at "Sweet and Sassy" in Ridgewood for some pampering, before traveling around the country for a week to talk about pediatric healthcare and the importance of determination.
"I learn from her all the time, and I believe she's an inspiration to kids her age and also to adults everyday, and never complains about anything and does everything with a smile," said Gary Clutter, Kaitlin's father.
Kaitlin has already undergone 12 surgeries, and has a shunt in her brain that keeps her alive. Every time her parents are told what Kaitlin cannot achieve they go for it.
"She's a cheerleader. She's gone to dancing school. She swims like a fish. She rides a bicycle. She climbs jungle gyms, the biggest ones we can find," mother Linda Clutter said.
Kaitlin loves to sing, and while most girls her age are dreaming about being the next Hannah Montana, her goal is to be a singing doggy doctor, which needed some explanation.
"That's a veterinarian … that when I'm doing my procedures on the doggy that I can sing to them and make them feel better," Kaitlin said.
Kaitlin said singing makes everyone feel good.
Kaitlin has a lot of work ahead as a Champion Across America. She'll be in Washington in two weeks to meet President Barack Obama.
Amazing, indeed.
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