Josh Butler stopped by the JT Show to talk about his inspiring story of loss and love and his journey from Terry, Mississippi to Mt. Midoriyama! Josh met his wife at Ole Miss and moved to Nashville to follow her because he wanted to marry her. Soon after their nuptials, his wife, Katie, became pregnant with their first child. Dewey Butler IV was born in 2015 with a rare genetic disorder that made it difficult for him to breathe or eat, and despite the best efforts of the nurses and doctors of Vanderbilt University Hospital, Dewey passed away after living his 132 days in the hospital. While Dewey was being treated on the 4th floor of the hospital, another child, Braxtel, was being treated on the 5th floor, but Braxtel’s family abandoned him, with only the nurses to be Braxtel’s family. Through God’s grace, the Butlers were introduced to Braxtel, and after a 6 month foster care program, they adopted little Braxtel.
Braxtel was able to join Katie on the sidelines at the Dayton Beach Finals of American Ninja Warrior, and Josh Butler made it past the Warped Wall obstacle, only to fall on the Salmon Ladder, ending his 2017 run on American Ninja Warrior. Although his time in the spotlight is coming to an end, his work with under-privileged kids in Nashville and his family’s story will continue to inspire hope in humanity for years to come.
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