8-year-old left unable to speak normally by a rare virus in his voice box . The boy was diagnosed with the disease at age 2 and has been on medication since then. Hapner called Joey 's recovery a miracle . `` To see someone like Joey , who every day is getting in trouble for talking or singing and is now participating in after-school activities that he would not do before because of his voice , it 's incredible . '' An estimated 20,000 children and adults in the U.S. suffer from the disease . The condition can create serious breathing problems if left untreated .
8-year-old left unable to speak normally by a rare virus in his voice box . The boy was diagnosed with the disease at age 2 and has been on medication since then. An estimated 20,000 children and adults in the U.S. suffer from the disease . The condition can create serious breathing problems if left untreated .