Jude
Meet Jude: The Heart Behind Jude&Jojos Photography
From the very beginning, our sweet Jude showed us what it means to be resilient. Born with a condition known as "blue baby," he would stop breathing for more than 20 seconds at a time. At just six months old, Jude was diagnosed with laryngomalacia, a condition that affects the soft, immature cartilage of the upper larynx, making breathing a challenge. For the first year of his life, he wore a heart monitor—tiny wires helping his parents sleep a little easier each night.
As Jude grew, his developmental milestones weren’t lining up with other children his age. At three years old, a routine check-up revealed something no one expected: Jude had failed his first eye exam. Further testing showed that he had lost his eyesight and was legally blind. But that diagnosis led to a life-changing moment—Jude received his very first pair of thick glasses and saw the world, and his family, for the very first time. That moment alone could have been the start of an incredible story. But for Jude, it was just the beginning.
Soon after, he was diagnosed with Receptive Language Disorder, which affects the ability to understand spoken language. As he began speech and language therapy, doctors discovered seizure-related activity. After multiple EEGs and MRIs, Jude was diagnosed with partial epilepsy in the left temporal lobe and a fetal birth defect known as Incomplete Hippocampal Inversion—a condition that impacts memory and cognitive development.
And then came one more piece to the puzzle: Jude was officially diagnosed with Autism, Level 2. Today, Jude attends more than 20 hours of therapy a week, including speech, occupational, and ABA therapy. Each session is a stepping stone to help him better understand and navigate the world around him, using tools that support his unique strengths. He absolutely loves his ABA therapy and is currently on a waitlist for equestrian therapy, which we’re all so hopeful he’ll start soon.
Through all the diagnoses, therapies, and endless appointments, one thing remains constant—Jude’s light. His joy, curiosity, and unshakable spirit inspired something even greater: Jude&Jojos Photography.
What began as a mother’s way to cope and connect turned into a mission. Jude sparked the fire in me to do more for the special needs community—to create space for families like ours to feel seen, understood, and celebrated. At Jude&Jojos, we capture the real, quirky, messy, and beautiful moments that make up life in all its forms.
Jude isn’t just the namesake of this business. He’s the reason it exists. And through every photo I take, I carry his story with me—one of hope, resilience, and unconditional love.
