Isaiah Acosta was born in 1999 with a rare condition called situs inversus, which meant he didn’t have a jaw and couldn’t eat or speak. When he was born, he didn’t get oxygen for 15 minutes, and doctors thought he might not live a good life. But now, 23 years later, Isaiah isn’t just healthy; he’s also becoming a star in the music world.
Isaiah Acosta from Phoenix, Arizona, is a real-life example of never giving up. Even though he was born without a voice or a way to eat and needs a tube to breathe, he’s always pushed through. His mom, Tarah, shared in a documentary how special Isaiah is. Born on October 31, 1999, he came into the world two weeks early, showing from the start that he’s a fighter.
From the beginning, his mother sensed something wasn’t right. The doctors delivered the tough news: Isaiah might not make it. His mom, Tarah, explained, “Everything in his body is a mirror image flipped backwards. His stomach, his heart, I mean everything.” Born without a jaw, Isaiah’s parents had to make a tough choice about his future right away. They were warned he might never walk, talk, or even leave his bed.
Isaiah faced a tough start with a condition called agnathia, which meant he was born without a jaw. To breathe, he needed a tube in his neck. Worse, he went without oxygen for 15 minutes right after his birth. Despite the challenges, his mom didn’t see him as just his condition. She told NPR, “I didn’t see you as the baby with no jaw and all the tubes. I saw you as my baby.” She urged the doctors to do their best, and Isaiah kept showing his fighter spirit.
23 years after his challenging start, Isaiah shows that determination can overcome huge obstacles. With his wonderful character and infectious smile, he brightens up any room instantly. Chris, his “favorite teacher,” shared, “Isaiah comes to school every day energetic and ready to interact, he wraps his community together, people want to know his story, they want to be around him.”
Isaiah is deeply engaged in helping his community and, impressively, he’s making a mark in the music world, even though he can’t speak. Because of his unique condition, he’s never experienced the taste of food and relies on a feeding tube for nourishment six times a day. His condition also means he breathes differently, not through his nose or mouth. This makes him more prone to illness since he doesn’t filter air the same way others do.
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Arizona’s dry winters are tough for Isaiah. But he’s found creative ways to communicate, even writing rap songs using gestures and his phone. A Phoenix rapper, Tikey “Trap House” Patterson, became Isaiah’s voice and performed his first rap. Tragically, Tikey passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2019. He once told Isaiah, “You should always rise to be able to do what you want to do and never let the opinions of others hold you back from achieving your goals.”
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Drawing inspiration from his friend, the rapper Trap House, Isaiah keeps pushing forward. He recently celebrated a milestone, graduating from high school—a moment his family hadn’t dared to hope for. “I’m going to keep his (Trap House) legacy alive, continuing to share our story, to share kindness,” Isaiah shared with 12News. Additionally, many people now follow Isaiah on social media, where he offers glimpses of his daily life and shares his remarkable journey.
Isaiah uses social media to raise awareness about his rare condition, one that often leads people to judge him just by his appearance.
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In 2022, he shared an uplifting update with his Instagram followers: after surgery, there’s hope he might breathe through his nose for the first time. “After 22 years I will hopefully be able to get air flow through my nose 👃🏼,” he expressed in a post with a post-surgery photo. You can learn more about Isaiah’s inspiring story in the provided video clip.
Isaiah’s wish is for an equal shot at life and to support others who might be dealing with illnesses or facing prejudice due to their appearance. He’s triumphed over numerous challenges, and it’s our hope that he keeps shining and motivating many more. Sharing Isaiah’s story can serve as a powerful reminder for everyone to relentlessly pursue their dreams.
