Determined To Compete!
Butch Lumpkin had every opportunity to feel sorry for himself and give up because of his physical makeup, but he didn’t! In the 1950s and 60s, there were between 10 and 20 thousand “Thalidomide Babies” born after their mothers took a drug to combat morning sickness. Butch is one of the approximately 5,000 survivors worldwide. Butch was born with what he calls “short arms”. When asked, he says “I am blessed it could have been worse,” stressing that attitude is everything. He has a natural athletic ability that would help him navigate the world as a disabled person- but the real truth is his abilities far exceed that of you and me. He doesn’t buy into the labels “disabled” or “handicapped.” Instead, he uses “physically challenged” with the patience, heart, mind and ability to adapt!