Tears as Boy With Cerebral Palsy Is Able To Blow Out Own Birthday Candle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The precious moment a boy with cerebral palsy managed to blow out his own birthday candle has gone viral online.
Like most children, Jack Widbin gets to mark his birthday with a delicious cake of his choice. However, while others can easily make a wish and blow out the candles, Jack never could—until now.
At the age of 11 months, Jack was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, severely impacting his mobility and development. His mom, Andi Widbin, told Newsweek that he "had a stroke at birth" that was later revealed in a brain MRI.
"Jack is unable to move his muscles normally on the left side of his body," said Andi, who is from Orlando, Florida. "He also experiences major muscle contractions, which prevent fluid movement and affects his ability to walk."
Jack Widbin blowing out the candle on his birthday cake.
Jack Widbin blowing out the candle on his birthday cake.
@widbin_world / TikTok
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders caused by abnormal brain development, affecting the ability to control muscles. It's the most common motor disability in children, with roughly 1 in every 345 children in the U.S. having been diagnosed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The condition causes problems with movement and posture, and some people may also experience intellectual disability, seizures, problems with their vision hearing or speech, and joint problems.
Over the years, Jack has overcome many challenges and continues to bring joy to his family. There are many things he cannot do, but he refuses to let that diminish his spirit.
Though it might seem minor to others, blowing out his birthday candle has always been difficult for Jack. Every year, he would attempt to do it but was never able to blow them out without help.
That changed on April 28, when he turned 7 and showed everyone just how far he's come.
"Jack usually would attempt to blow them out himself and oftentimes he would be able to with help, but his seventh birthday was the first time he did it completely on his own," Andi said. "We were all very excited and a little surprised that he did it right away without anyone needing to push the cake closer or even lean him towards it."
The birthday boy was very pleased and couldn't stop smiling after.
The incredible moment was caught on camera, and Andi knew she had to share it on social media (@widbin_world on TikTok and Instagram). The video shows a montage of all the times Jack struggled to blow out the candle, and finally succeeding on his seventh birthday.
The clip has gone viral with more than 3.8 million views on TikTok and 3 million on Instagram at the time of writing.
Andi often shares glimpses of their life living with cerebral palsy online to connect with others and raise awareness. The reaction is often very supportive, but the response to this video has been on another level.
By sharing Jack's story, Andi hopes to show that there is still so much love and joy in his life. While he may need assistance for most daily tasks, he doesn't let that define who he is.
"We have received a lot of encouraging messages from others with cerebral palsy who remember the days of not being able to blow out their candles," she said. "We also received a lot of positive feedback from people without disabilities who have been reminded to appreciate the little things and accomplishments in life."
Jack's accomplishment has generated more than 592,400 likes and 2,100 comments on TikTok already, as users hailed his perseverance.
One comment reads: "There were moments he looked disappointed; but not once did he look defeated."
Another TikTok user wrote: "oh how I cheered him on and cried when he did it YAY!"
While another person added: "7 years in the making! Well done!"
Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
2 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Take On Me Singer Morten Harket Said He Has Parkinson's Disease
Morten Harket, who for more than 40 years has been the frontman of the Grammy-nominated Norwegian pop trio a-ha, confirmed this week that he has Parkinson's disease. Harket, 65, made the announcement Wednesday by sharing an article written by music journalist and author Jan Omdahl on a-ha's official website. In it, the singer-songwriter said he'd been experiencing vocal issues as a result of his condition, and admitted he was unsure about a return to the concert stage. 'The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future,' he said. Though Harket said he had 'no problem accepting the diagnosis,' he added, 'I'm trying the best I can to prevent my entire system from going into decline. It's a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects. There's so much to weigh up when you're emulating the masterful way the body handles every complex movement, or social matters and invitations, or day-to-day life in general.' A native of Kongsberg, Norway, Harket formed a-ha with keyboardist Magne Furuholmen and guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy in 1982. Three years later, the band catapulted to international fame with their breakout smash, ' Take On Me.' The song's success was buoyed by its now-iconic music video, which combined live-action performance footage with pencil-sketch animation. Though a-ha never replicated the success of 'Take On Me' on a global scale, the band continued to release music throughout the '80s and '90s. In 1991, they broke the world record for paid attendance at a rock concert when they performed before more than 198,000 fans at Brazil's Rock in Rio festival. Their 11th studio album, True North, was unveiled in 2022. There is no cure for Parkinson's, a neurodegenerative disease that can cause muscle stiffness, impaired speech and uncontrolled movement. The disease can be revealed by a mere tremor of the hand, according to the Mayo Clinic. Furuholmen reacted to Harket's announcement with a heartfelt post on Instagram. Acknowledging he'd known about his bandmate's diagnosis 'for some time,' he said the news 'brings sadness,' but stressed 'there is also a lot of gratitude: for all the amazing memories, for how our combined creative efforts as a band have been so generously embraced by the world, and for how lucky we are that people continue to find meaning, hope and joy in our shared musical legacy.' In his chat with Omdahl, Harket said he didn't expect to regain 'full technical control' over his vocals, but had nonetheless been working on new songs 'that I've got great belief in, and I feel the lyrics, especially, have something of a different aspect of me in them.' United Archives / United Archives via Getty Images 'I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish them for release,' he continued. 'Time will tell if they make it. I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinson's patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box. It's all up to me, I just have to get this out of the way first.'
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
These Are the Best and Worst States for Aging in Place
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new report from Seniorly ranked the best and worst states for aging at home for seniors, and Florida surprisingly earned the lowest spot of all. "These findings reinforce what we already know," one expert told Newsweek, "aging well isn't just about personal health; it's also about where you live and what resources that place can provide." As millions of Americans turn 65 this year, more and more are hoping to continue living in their homes rather than move to assisted living facilities or retirement homes. In 2025, a record 4.2 million Americans will reach senior age, and 75 percent of older Americans said they wanted to stay living in their own homes in a recent AARP survey. Why It Matters Many Americans hope to stay at home to maintain their independence and remain in the communities where they've already built support systems. However, not all locations make this easiest for seniors, as cost of living, transportation, and access to high-quality health care all play a role in whether a senior is able to successfully live outside of a retirement home. Shirley Gooding, a physical Therapy Aid, helps William Rexroat, a WWII Navy veteran exercise during a physical therapy session at the Quincy Veterans Home February 17, 2005, in Quincy, Illinois. Shirley Gooding, a physical Therapy Aid, helps William Rexroat, a WWII Navy veteran exercise during a physical therapy session at the Quincy Veterans Home February 17, 2005, in Quincy, To Know Best States Utah took the best state spot for aging in place, as only 35 percent of seniors live alone. They also have relatively good weather, with just 10.1 inches of rain and snow each year on average. The state also had a significant level of smart home tech use at 37 percent. The top 10 state list for seniors was as follows: Utah North Dakota New Jersey Idaho Texas Nebraska California New Mexico Kansas Washington Seniorly's list was compiled using data on home health care quality and availability, emergency care services, housing costs, road safety, walkability, weather hazards and more. They also took into account the risk of isolation, as roughly 43 percent of U.S. seniors live alone. The top states generally had short ER wait times, with North Dakota coming in at second place, as well as a high level of meal deliveries for older Americans. Home care quality also mattered, with 31 percent of New Jersey's agencies earning a 4.5 or 5-star rating. Worst States Meanwhile, the worst states for aging in places were as follows: Florida Kentucky North Carolina Georgia Alabama Tennessee Mississippi Vermont Oklahoma Hawaii Many retirees may be surprised to find Florida ranked the lowest for aging in place. This is because of its limited access to home health aides, with 50 seniors per available aide. Floridians also deal with high housing costs, with 30.7 percent of older homeowners spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing. The state also experiences high precipitation of 53 inches annually, which could heighten safety risks for seniors. The other Southern states ranked low struggled for different reasons. Kentucky had one of the highest rates of fatal car crashes involving seniors, at 28.2 deaths per 100,000 drivers. Meanwhile, seniors in North Carolina spent an average of 195 minutes in the emergency room, longer than nearly all other states. "What is definitely eye-opening is how many Southern states ranked near the bottom," Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. "These are states with historically high poverty rates and heavy reliance on social insurance programs." What People Are Saying Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek: "Utah ranks first and Florida ranks last. Does that mean we should always retire in Utah and never in Florida? Not really. The bottom line is aging in place requires a network, and aging seniors need to be located where their network is located. Aside from being financially prepared for longevity, access to both skilled and non-skilled assistance is the key and is most likely to come from family and close friends." Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek: "There's a clear relationship between income and aging outcomes. The wealthier the state, the more likely it is to support aging in place through quality care, better roads, and stronger support systems. These findings reinforce what we already know: aging well isn't just about personal health, it's also about where you live and what resources that place can provide." Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: "What's most surprising about these rankings are how perceptions do not always equal reality with America's aging population. Florida has been for decades perceived as a haven for retirees; however, in the years following the pandemic, housing costs have risen dramatically and the state has been slow to adopt the home health measures other states have to better medically serve their communities." What Happens Next From 2025 to 2050, the number of people aged 65 and older is expected to skyrocket from 63.3 million to 82.1 million. "States like Utah benefit from more seniors being less alone and having more access to smart home features that assist in the aging process," Beene said. "At the end of the day, aging isn't just about saving some tax dollars. It's about the overall quality of life."
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Martha Stewart aesthetic' is the trend of the summer, according to Pinterest report
It's been 49 years since Martha Stewart left Wall Street, and the lifestyle maven is as influential as ever. According to the 2025 Pinterest Summer Report, the 'Martha Stewart aesthetic' is poised to take over, with searches up 2,889 per cent on the platform. From her vegetable garden (+72 per cent) to dinner recipes (+45 per cent) and chicken coop (+22 per cent), Stewart continues to inspire. 'It's going to be a Martha Girl Summer,' the Martha Stewart Instagram account posted. 'As we've seen, our founder is influencing the influencers, with many embracing her iconic lifestyle by throwing dinner parties, cultivating home-grown produce and raising backyard chickens.' The nearly three-thousand-fold increase includes Stewart-specific search terms, such as 'Martha Stewart chicken coop,' and more general ones that Pinterest attributes to her sway, including 'fresh summer recipes.' Stewart's estate in Bedford, New York, spans 153 acres. When she bought it in 2000, it was 'a blank canvas,' according to a Facebook post. Today, it's filled with rose beds, daffodils, orchards, vegetable plots and a greenhouse dedicated to begonias. 'My father taught me that you can do it all from scratch, starting from seeds or cuttings, and if you nurture them, they will produce,' she said. 'For me, gardening is all about scent, colour, and variety, variety, and more variety.' In the spirit of Stewart's DIY philosophy, Pinterest users are gravitating toward harvest recipes (+680 per cent), urban farming (+374 per cent), flower gardens (+259 per cent), small backyard vegetable gardens (+246 per cent) and garden-to-table cooking (+117 per cent). 'This back-to-basics approach not only fosters a reconnection to nature but also pairs seamlessly with the rise of summer detox drinks, with searches up 566 per cent on Pinterest,' according to the report. As people have started drinking less alcohol, especially young adults, functional beverages have filled the gap. These drinks, particularly popular among millennials and Gen Z, are designed to deliver health benefits beyond hydration and may be infused with herbs, vitamins and minerals, protein or CBD. Green juices for gut health (+316 per cent) — which Stewart drinks every morning — flavoured water drinks (+289 per cent), spinach smoothies that taste good (+227 per cent), anti-inflammatory drinks (+289 per cent) and herbal infusion recipes (+71 per cent) are among the summer detox drinks quenching Pinterest users' thirst. Whether low-alcohol, non-alcoholic or boozy, 'The popularity of savoury cocktails reflects a curiosity for innovative beverage experiences, marrying fresh produce and herbs with creative cocktail concoctions for a refreshing twist on traditional summer sips.' Cook This: 3 recipes for sharing from Family Style, including crispy devilled tea eggs These 9 restaurants gained Michelin stars in the first-ever Quebec guide Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here.
