The 19-year-old Vernon resident twice cheated death as a young boy in Haiti and, after being adopted by an American couple, has overcome one obstacle after another.

“He’s on his third life now,” said his adoptive mother, Kathy Rovetto.

Despite partial paralysis in his left arm and leg — from elbow-to-fingers and shin-to-toes — from a childhood head injury in Haiti, Rovetto played three seasons of basketball at Sussex County Technical School in Sparta, where he led the team in blocked shots in his junior year. He was sidelined this season, his senior year, due to corrective surgery on his left foot.

Last month, Rovetto was named one of four winners of the nonprofit Council for Exceptional Children’s “Yes I Can Award” for athletics.

The council, founded in 1922, bills itself as the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving education for students with disabilities and/or the gifted. It is giving 29 awards this year in nine categories.

The “Yes I Can” awards are given in categories of academics, arts, athletics, community service, employment, extracurricular activities, independent living skills, technology and self advocacy.

“He’s an inspiration to his teammates,” said Carol Sprague, Rovetto’s English teacher and the person who nominated him. “He’s an honest boy, always smiling, always helpful. He’s a good student.”

Source: nj.com