GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Eaton Hirdes, 8, is a real life wonder boy, similar to the character in the film "Wonder."
"Early in my pregnancy felt very much like something was wrong," his mother, April Hirdes, said.
Several early tests and ultrasounds showed no problems with the pregnancy, but that changed at about week 20.
"We knew that his face was severely deformed. His head was misshapen. His feet were not normal," April said.
Doctors monitored Eaton's development, but they saw no disorder based off his chromosomes. April said it wasn't frustrating to her, but it was scary.
"Then he came and all of that subsided, and instantly fell in love with this face that to us became normal," she said.
Eaton was put on a breathing tube immediately, and for the first five years of his life, nurses were basically roommates at the family's Ottawa County home. The family spent weeks traveling to specialists from Florida to Chicago.
For the first two years of his life, Eaton was only taken in public for church and doctors appointments. He often got curious looks from people, but it got easier.
"Your motherly instincts really kicks in, maybe to a degree that causes a disadvantage to your family, and we sheltered him very, very much," April said.
After reading the book "Wonder" and seeing the film by the same name, the family is sharing their story as they push for a more nonjudgemental society.
Hear from the family above.