At 14, Ekamjeet Singh is at an age when most teenagers are busy thinking about school, friends, exams and what they want to become. For him, everyday life has always involved challenges that most children never have to think about. Born in 2011 in Tarn Taran Sahib, Punjab, Ekamjeet lives with severe physical disability. He should ordinarily be in Class 10 at his age, but he currently studies in Class 6. Only his left hand has movement, according to his father, Lovejeet Singh. Yet Ekamjeet’s story is not only about what he cannot do. It is increasingly about what he has chosen to do despite the difficulties. Today, he creates motivational videos on Instagram, speaks about helping people with disabilities and tries to use his experience to encourage others. Behind that journey is a family that has spent years adapting their lives around his needs, facing painful losses and making difficult financial choices to give their children a better chance.
A difficult beginning that changed his life
According to Lovejeet, Ekamjeet was born as a seemingly healthy baby in 2011. However, his parents noticed that he did not cry for a few seconds immediately after birth. At the time, doctors reportedly told the family that everything was fine. The situation changed when Ekam was around four to five months old. “He used to cry a lot,” his father recalled while speaking about those early months. Concerned by the changes they were seeing, his parents took him to doctors, who told them that his muscles were very tight. When Ekam was around five to six months old, his parents took him to AIIMS Delhi for further evaluation. His father said doctors conducted an MRI and linked his condition to what had happened around his birth.According to his family, doctors told them that the delay in crying after birth had affected his nerves and oxygen supply. This is the family’s recollection of the medical explanation they received and is not independently verified. Over time, it became clear that Ekam would face significant physical challenges throughout his childhood. His parents, Lovejeet and Rajwinder Kaur, became his constant support system. They helped him with everyday activities and assisted him in climbing the stairs at school.
School was another battle for Ekam
Ekam’s physical limitations also affected his education. While other children could move around independently, he needed assistance for many basic activities. His parents continued to support him, but according to his father, problems eventually arose at school as well. Despite those difficulties, Ekam continued studying. His educational journey has been slower than that of many children his age, but his family did not give up on his education. When Ekam was around nine, another conversation changed the family’s thinking about his future. During a visit to doctors for an eye examination, his parents were reportedly advised to consider having another child. The suggestion, according to Lovejeet, was based on a concern about Ekam’s future care.The family eventually welcomed another son. But instead of bringing immediate relief, the birth began another painful chapter. The child was born with an intestinal problem and underwent surgery at just four days old. A second operation followed three months later. Despite repeated medical treatment, the child died in November 2022. For the family, the loss was devastating. They later had another son in October 2023. The baby, Kabir, developed breathing complications soon after birth and reportedly turned blue. Doctors told the family that his lungs were blocked. After treatment, he recovered over the following two weeks and is now three years old.
A family that sacrificed everything
While caring for their children, the family’s financial situation also became increasingly difficult. Lovejeet had to sell his house and use his savings to meet the family’s medical expenses. Today, he lives with his brother and works at his brother’s shop. But through all these struggles, Ekam’s mother has remained closely involved in his life. “His mother helps him entirely,” Lovejeet said while describing the support Ekam receives at home. For Ekam, that support has meant having someone beside him through school, daily routines, physical challenges and now his social media journey. His family eventually discovered another way for him to express himself.
From difficult circumstances to a message of hope
People around Ekam began suggesting that he make videos for social media. Initially, his father was not convinced. But that changed when Ekam’s videos started receiving a positive response. His family began seeing people watch, share and support his content. Ekam now posts motivational videos on Instagram through the account @ekamjeet1024. His message is simple: people with disabilities deserve support, dignity and opportunities. “If we help today, God will see this,” is the spirit behind the message he shares with viewers, urging people to extend a helping hand to those who need it. For Ekam, social media has become more than a platform for videos. It has given him a way to speak when his physical limitations make many other things difficult.His journey, however, is still unfolding. He remains a student, a teenager and a son whose family continues to support him every day. He may have spent much of his childhood being helped by others, but through his videos, Ekam is now trying to become a source of encouragement for others. His life has been marked by medical struggles, financial hardship, the loss of a sibling and countless everyday challenges. Yet his story is slowly becoming about something else too: finding a voice, creating a purpose and reminding people that a person’s possibilities cannot always be measured by what their body is able to do.