President Obama Praises Jefferson Boy In Letter

JEFFERSON, NJ— Barack Obama, with less than two months left in office, took the time to write to a Jefferson student who has persevered in the face of many challenges.

Magiting "Kiko" Mina is a seventh grader at Jefferson Township Middle School who has seen his fair share of hardships, nj.com first reported.

Kiko was born with a rare seizure disorder, undergoing four brain surgeries before he was three, including the removal of the right hemisphere of his brain.

A drawing Kiko did in art class of Obama caught the attention of his teacher, David DeVries. DeVries mailed the letter to the White House in March 2016. And then they both waited for a response.

Dated Nov. 29, and received by DeVries in early December, Obama praised Kiko's art skills, optimism, and "drive in the face of challenges."

The full letter reads:

Dear Kiko:

Mr. DeVries wrote to tell me how proud he is of you, and I wanted to let you know that I am, too. He also send along a copy of the portrait you drew of me— you are one talented kid!

I'm inspired by your optimism and drive in the face of challenges— I heard that you are "always trying, never stopping," and I trust you'll keep at it. As you continue to grow and learn, I encourage you to stay involved in activities you love and hold on to the resolve that has brought you this far. If you work hard in school, put your best effort into everything you do, and dream big, anything is possible.

It's clear you have a bright future ahead, and like Mr. DeVries, I expect great things from you!

Your friend,
Barack Obama

You can watch more about Kiko's story here, and read the full report at nj.com.

All images screenshots, nj.com YouTube video