Cottonwood youth overcomes disabilities, looks to future as an auto mechanic

DRIVEN: Joey Cuellar of Cottonwood proudly stands by his 1969 Chevy truck at the Cottonwood Hot Rods and Hogs Car Show. Next year, his goal is to return to the car show with the truck completely restored.

Born in 1991, Joey Cuellar of Cottonwood had a rough start in life. At three days old, Cuellar had a stroke that effected the left side of his body. He also had seizures before the stroke. At each stage of growth in Cuellar's life, the family waited to see what else would be effected, since he couldn't talk and let them know what he was feeling. Two times while Cuellar was growing, the seizures were bad enough to have him air lifted to UC Davis Medical Center.

The stroke and seizures caused learning disabilities making it hard for Joey to read, do math and talk.

Growing up with a house full of brothers, Joey had a great deal of support and love to teach him new things and a competition of sorts to keep up with them. In sixth grade, Joey made the basketball team at Evergreen Middle School.

"Joey was an inspiration to the team because he never gave up and kept on working harder than anyone else," said his mother, Beverly Cuellar. "While his brothers were at Boy Scouts, he would go into the cultural hall and spend hours shooting hoops until it was time to go home. He just never gave up."

From the beginning, Joey learned about setting goals and achieving them. Never giving up. Joey has been seizure free since he was seven years old. Now at almost 18 years old, Joey has a been setting and achieving major goals. For his senior project for school, Joey did auto body work for some of his neighbors to earn the money to buy his 1969 Chevy C-10 pick up truck along with the money to restore it. His goal was to be able to get it running and show it this year at the Cottonwood Hot Rods and Hogs Car Show.

"Joey's comment to us when he got his truck to the show, was 'I did it,' "we are proud of him." said his mother Beverly.

The next part of the restoration process will be new paint after Joey sands the truck down to prepare it for painting. After that will be the interior of the truck.

Joey attended public schools until the end of his sophomore year. He is now home schooled through Westwood Charter School. He will graduate in the spring of 2010. After high school, he plans to attend Shasta College taking classes in Automotive Repair. He would also like to continue restoring old cars.

Joey has been inspired throughout his life by his parents and brothers who have never treated him like he was handicapped.

"Joey sets his goals, gets them done and then goes after the next goal, one at a time," said Beverly Cuellar.

"My next goal is to finish my truck and show it at the 2010 Hot Rods and Hogs show," stated Joey.