Tori Roloff Celebrates Her 5-Year-Old Son After Scoring His First Ever Soccer Goal – 2 Years After Having Leg Surgery

Tori Roloff gave birth to Jackson Kyle Roloff on May 12, 2017 – roughly two years after she tied the knot with Little People Big World star Zach Roloff. Jackson was born with achondroplasia, the same form of short-limbed dwarfism his father has. As a result of the disorder, Jackson had bowed legs as a toddler. 

In an effort to treat his bowed legs, the Roloffs opted to have their son undergo hemiepiphysiodesis – also known as guided plate growth surgery. The procedure temporarily halted the growth of the longer part of his leg, which allows the shorter portion of his leg to catch up over time. He had the surgery in 2021. 

Jackson was four years old when he had the surgery and practically needed to relearn how to walk as he recovered from the procedure. Now nearly two years later, Jackson is about to turn six years old and recently scored his first ever soccer goal – an achievement that made his mother extremely proud. 

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On April 18, Tori Roloff took to her Instagram to celebrate her son for scoring his first goal – sharing two photos of him on the field and a video of the goal itself! She also explained how Jackson, as well as others, are starting to notice he’s ‘different’ and, while they ask questions, there’s no bad intent behind it.

“At Jackson’s first soccer game, the other team was asking why he was so small. Purely out of curiosity I believe-not bullying or being malicious-just curious,” she wrote in the caption. “It stuck with him enough to tell me on the side line though. I told him ‘that’s how God made you, now show them how fast you are!’”

It was after her little pep talk that he scored his goal – Jackson was persistent and weaved his way through two defenders before kicking the ball in the net. “I can’t tell you how stoked we were,” Tori wrote of the accomplishment – later adding that she was ‘pretty stoked my pep talk got him his first soccer goal.’ 

Many people in the comments were quick to congratulate Jackson and praised Tori for being the perfect mother for him. Some users also praised Jackson’s teammates, who were visibly excited when he scored his first goal – one of which hurried over to give Jackson a high-five. It was a heartwarming moment. 

Tori Roloff Wants Her Son to Understand How Different He Is

In her Instagram caption, Tori Roloff talked about how Jackson is starting to notice he’s different and how difficult it has been for her to cope with it. At the same time, she wants her son to know he’s different – albeit not in the way he thinks he is. She wants him to embrace his unique perspective and viewpoint. 

“I pray you’re different in how you see and love others. I pray that you’re different in the choices you make to keep God close to your heart. I pray you’re different in how you solve problems and arguments. I pray that you think differently about how the world works and adaptations that can be made,” Tori wrote. 

She also prays she uses his differences to help change the world for the better and that God has set him apart from all other people for a reason. “You are different, kid. Different than any kid I’ve ever met. You are one of a kind and I am so stinking proud to be your mom,” she said – adding she loves him ‘so much.’

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Zach and Tori Roloff also share two other children together – Lilah Ray, 3, and Josiah Luke, who turns 1 year old in two weeks. Lilah has the same form of dwarfism as her older brother and father. Josiah is considered a ‘rainbow baby’ because he came after the couple experienced a pregnancy loss in 2021.