SPENCER, Okla. (KFOR) - Two years ago, JJ Rodriguez was viciously attacked by his neighbor’s dogs while he was playing in his front yard with his sisters.
“They tore his face off. They scalped him,” his grandmother Delfina Wright told KFOR on Feb. 20, 2022.
The toddler’s father, Jose, fought off the pitbulls and JJ was rushed to the hospital.
"I thought, I thought I'd lost my son,” said Jose. “Children his age in the situation he was in, their odds aren't the greatest, you know, especially with a multiple dog attack."
But, JJ’s defied those odds.
He has some permanent physical damage. For example, some of his teeth will never grow back and he'll have a narrowed airway for the rest of his life. However, the Rodriguez's say they've decided to focus on his victories, instead of dwelling on the struggles.
Now almost four years old, JJ’s fearlessly conquered a total of 13 major reconstructive surgeries and has thrived in physical therapy.
"The milestones started stacking up,” said Jose. "From sitting up on his own then now he's trying to walk and then he was running and then he learned how to eat again.Then he learned how to talk."
His mom, Cassandra, added that he’s loud, happy and sweet too.
On Tuesday, JJ had on his “adventure shirt” and his favorite cowboy boots.
His journey continues to inspire countless others on social media.
“I've had a lot of messages come through, even from cancer patients and stuff saying that JJ has renewed their strength or given them the motivation to keep pushing,” said Jose.
Jose also had a message for dog owners.
“JJ, his fight is not over,” said Jose. “Please, if you do own large dogs, please keep them contained. Please keep them leashed and please know the breed that you're owning. Not every dog is the same. You know, each breed has a different purpose and different traits. Make sure it's a good fit for your family and respect your neighbors.”
JJ has a 14th major surgery coming up to fix the hoods of his eyes.
