Support Michael"Brolylegs"Begum's Family & Legacy

We are deeply saddened and mourn the loss of Michael Philip Begum III. Michael was someone who blessed the world with his beautiful, beautiful soul and even when faced with a challenging situation, Michael never let his disability dissuade his desire for a life full of adventure, fun and laughter. For those around the world who he inspired and reached with his strength and perseverance. We hope to find your support in this time of grief and pain. His legacy will continue to live on through his Mother Josefina, His Brother Jonathan, and His Sister Karin. Along with all the countless family, friends, and fans from around the globe that share in this heartbreaking pain and loss. Please take the time to listen to our stories below. We thank any and all for their generosity and kindness to help provide stability and grace throughout this difficult time.

Edit: Just for further clarification from what was stated in the video. Any and all support will be for plans of honoring Broly with a celebration of life event along with stability for the family adjusting to life with this sudden loss of my brother.

I am Michael Begum's mother, my name is Josefina. AKA "JoJo"

I want to take this opportunity to thank the millions of people around the world that have come out to show my family the love and support during our time of grief for the passing of my son Michael "Brolylegs" Begum. As a mother of a legendary son that was born with a rare disease called Arthrogryposis, a disease that has been a struggle since the very beginning.

I would like to take this time to just share one story that would explain his birth and this incredible life he has left behind.

Mike was my fourth child; at the time my husband (Also named Michael) and I owned an auto repair shop in Tampa Florida. One day a woman entered the shop and had placed her hand over my stomach while I was pregnant with Broly. She touched my stomach and made me aware that something was "seriously wrong" with the baby. To my surprise, I yelled at her and told her to leave the shop immediately. She told me to be quiet and said to listen to her words.

She said, "Your son is going to be known across the world because of his ability to overcome the challenges that he will be faced with." I started to cry and told my husband not to work on her car and I left the shop. I drove home that day crying and overwhelmed, but to be honest. I knew there was something off about that encounter, but I didn't want to accept it. I proceeded to go to the hospital the following day without consulting my husband about it and Upon arrival they did a sonogram and the doctor (ironically named Michael) Started to advice the nurses to proceed to take me to the operating room for a c-section. "What's Wrong with my baby?" I asked, they said there was no Amniotic fluid in the stomach, and they had to get the baby out right away. They gave me only minutes to call my husband at his shop and inform him of what was going on. He answered and I said "Michael...there's something wrong with our baby, and they have to take him out today via C-section" He hung up the phone and within 20 minutes he was in the operating room in scrubs.

The next thing I knew or heard was the doctor screaming that the MY baby was 'severely deformed'. and at that point they had to put me under. When I came to, I had no idea of the devastation and that was about to change our lives forever. My husband Michael, was standing by my bed and I asked "What is wrong with our baby?" He replied with "he was fine". I replied with "What do you mean he's fine? The doctor said he was deformed." He said our baby was a beautiful baby that he was born with a rare condition, and he was transferred to the Childrens Shriners hospital immediately. Both his legs were crossed; his hands were caved in, and he could not extend his arms or legs down like normal so they were just curved in due to the condition. I kept saying that they were wrong, that there was no way, all the sonograms were fine and that this couldn't be happening. It took a nurse's courage to tell me to stop feeling sorry for myself and to go see my beautiful son. I yelled at her and told her to get my medication and I once again went to sleep. When I woke up two hours later, there was a picture of my son tapped to the bed railing where I slept. He had the most beautiful face and SO much hair and in that moment that's all I saw. "It couldn't possibly be that bad" I would tell myself so I took my shower and for the first time I took that trip to shiners and saw my beautiful baby boy.

Little did I know that there would be countless operations, countless trips, so much therapy and so many doctors. When I would bring Michael to the hospital, I had him wrapped up in blankets so people wouldn't judge his disability. And one day I scheduled an appointment to re-cast his legs and there I met a woman who was asking "What's wrong with your baby?" I replied, "Nothing is wrong with my baby." She replied again with "You're at Shriners with a baby wrapped up in blankets in sunny Florida. Something must be wrong... Let me tell you my story." She continued "My husband and I could not conceive a child. Five miscarriages and finally on the sixth, we had a daughter and she's sitting over there by the window." Her daughter was born with no arms, no legs, and blind. At that moment I finally realized there were things much more important than his physical appearance. I began to remove the blankets and was grateful to have a son that could communicate with me. So, my future efforts were to explore and expand his perfectly sound mind and that lead to the Brolylegs that you all know and love today. To be continued...

(Acknowledgment: I want to make it perfectly clear. We have no affiliation with "Attorney Alex Begum, Yolanda Begum, Andrea Begum" From Brownsville Tx. No Blood Relation.)

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Dear big brother,

Though I am struggling to wrap my head around this new reality I can't help but say how proud I am to be your sister. You will forever be the center of our family and the strength within us. Your impact on so many people around the world is so incredible. There are so many things I wish we could have done and more we could have said but I know you are right here with us. You always found strength in resilience, continued to stay educated, were the best listener, stayed humble, never stopped working towards your passions and obviously hilarious. I hope to always be more like you. This is just the beginning for us in celebrating what a beautiful soul you are.

I love you, I love you, I love you, I miss you,

Your sis, Karin Begum ♥

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If you'd like to hear more stories and more memories from Michael directly. This wonderful soul found time to write a book about his life and about his earlier experiences in life. It's called "My Life Beyond The Floor" He wrote this entire book with a chopstick and his brilliant mind. It took him almost a year and a half to put it all together. After this read you'll be forever changed and we implore you to find the time to read it. Thank you.