Adam Smith is the kind of kid that gives you hope for the future. He's smart, articulate and generous, and soon he'll mark an important milestone.
The 17-year-old is becoming an Eagle Scout -- an achievement he says only about 5% of Boy Scouts accomplish. "It's something not everybody does," Smith said.
But that's not the most amazing part of Smith's story. In addition to doing something the majority of kids his age will never do he's done it while overcoming a pretty significant birth defect.
Smith was born with hip bones and femurs that pointed sideways. Picture heels that touch and toes that point in opposite directions.
In the last few years he's undergone a series of surgeries at All Children's Hospital to basically rebuild his legs just in time for him to do a little building of his own.
"It's really exciting that I can finally go do stuff that I wasn't able to do fully before," Smith said.
As part of his Eagle Scout project Smith constructed multiple gates and fences at the Quantum Leap Farm in Odessa."They have a little area out here that has an injured horse with an injured foot," Smith said.
The fencing he built created a safer, more secure environment for the injured horse.
Pretty fitting for a kid who knows a thing or two about overcoming injury. He now walks around the farm on legs that finally face the correct direction, proud of both his Scout achievement and his physical improvement.
"It's so cool to become an Eagle Scout and all the challenges I've had in my life and have it all done with now," Smith said.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:51 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:51:06 GMT
Attorney William Grant is representing the family of Jamie Seeger. Grant says they want answers on why Seeger did not have protection as a confidential informant for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. To the left of Grant is Wendy Moore, Seeger's mother
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
The family of a female confidential informant says, they want answers. Last July, Jamie Seeger was found shot to death in her car in Crystal River.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:31 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:31:28 GMT
Starting next week traffic on the Davis Islands bridge and the Bayshore Boulevard ramp will likely become more congested due to intermittent lane closures.
Starting next week traffic on the Davis Islands bridge and the Bayshore Boulevard ramp will likely become more congested due to intermittent lane closures.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
Tuesday, June 18 2013 2:46 PM EDT2013-06-18 18:46:51 GMT
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Chrysler says it has resolved its differences with the government and will recall older Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty SUVs that could be at risk of a fuel tank fire. Earlier this month the company refused
Tuesday, June 18 2013 1:09 PM EDT2013-06-18 17:09:00 GMT
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Fewer U.S. adults are smoking, a new government report says. Last year, about 18 percent of adults participating in a national health survey described themselves as current smokers.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:01 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:01:00 GMT
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
It seems getting down on one knee with a ring is taking a backseat to some very creative marriage proposals. In recent years, men have conceptualized and executed marriage proposals that have raised
Tuesday, June 18 2013 5:50 PM EDT2013-06-18 21:50:46 GMT
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
Sheriff Al Nienhuis would like to verify that the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is currently working on one of hundreds of very ambiguous leads in the Jennifer Odom Homicide.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:00 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:00:43 GMT
Forecasters say a tropical depression crossing Mexico's Bay of Campeche is expected to become a tropical storm before making landfall in that country's Gulf Coast state of Veracruz.
Forecasters say a tropical depression crossing Mexico's Bay of Campeche is expected to become a tropical storm before making landfall in that country's Gulf Coast state of Veracruz.
Wednesday, June 19 2013 6:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 22:13:51 GMT
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring. Numerous customers of Pompano Beach-based Nationwide Pools contacted 8
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing a pool company that was the subject of an 8 On Your Side investigation this spring.
