Hometown Heroes: Catching up with 'Mr. Strong'

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - It's the simple things that make 6-year-old Landon Harrington smile.

"He absolutely loves to walk. If he's having a tough time, walking is the best for him," said Landon's mom, Michelle Morales.

Landon has changed a lot since we first met him in January of 2015. Landon has cystic fibrosis, so he still gets sick from time to time, but he hasn't been admitted to the hospital recently, and he's healthy enough for school.

"He loves school. I have never seen a kid love school so much,” said Michelle. “He actually gets so excited when I say we're going to school. He gets a big smile on his face. He loves seeing his friends."

Landon's also learning how to communicate better.

"He has a vocabulary of about 12 words now. He's actually interacting with people. You can just see that there's a lot more going on in there than he can express, and he is just so excited that people are interacting with him," explained Michelle.

And even though he can't say the words, he always makes sure his mom knows she's loved.

"He can't say ‘I love you’ or anything, but we'll be driving and he'll say, 'mom’, and I'll look in the rearview mirror, and he's got his hand by his mouth because he's trying to give me a kiss,” said Michelle. “He just wants that attention.” 

When Landon's not at school, he's in Landon's Lagoon- a brand new sensory room designed just for him by the Vitale Brothers.

"It's just his place where he knows he's completely comfortable, and it's not stressful for him. It's just soothing for anyone when you go in there," said Michelle.

The lights are dimmed inside Landon's Lagoon and all of the toys are perfectly placed and within Landon's reach. But it's not just fun and games inside the sensory room; there are gadgets to teach him how to turn on a light switch, ring a doorbell and even open a cabinet.

There isn't a lot that Landon won't try, and he does it all with courage and a smile.

"He surprises me every day. So I think he can accomplish anything he wants.” 

When Landon isn't at school or behavioral therapy, he and his mom are helping other children with special needs through the Mr. Strong Foundation.

They have already helped 42 families with their therapy and medical bills.  

Click here for more information about the Mr. Strong Foundation.