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"Kid President": A boy easily broken teaching how to be strong

(CBS News) HENDERSON, Tenn. -- An internet video by 9-year-old Robby Novak has been viewed 12 million times. He plays the role of "Kid President," giving the world a pep talk.

"The world needs you to stop being boring," he says in the video. "Yeah, you! Boring is easy. Anybody can be boring. But you're gooder than that."

Robby says his favorite part about being "Kid President" is dancing.

Robby has osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease that makes his bones brittle.
Robby has osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease that makes his bones brittle. The Novak Family

"I feel like I'm flying," he says. "Like a bird. Like all birds fly -- except ostriches."

While Robby lives it up on camera, it's his life off camera that is the real inspiration.

He recently broke his finger. He says he usually injures "mostly arms and legs, but not a finger. This is my first finger break."

Robby has osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease that makes his bones brittle. He has had more than 70 broken bones and 13 surgeries. He has steel rods in both legs.

But Robby says he doesn't worry about breaking things.

"I don't worry about -- like, that's my point!" he exclaims. "I'm trying not to worry about it. Like, I want everybody to know ... I'm not that kid who breaks a lot. Like, I'm just -- I'm just a kid who wants to have fun."


Robby and his sister Lexi, who also has brittle bone disease, were adopted by Laurie and David Novak nine years ago. Even when his bones were broken, Robby's positive attitude and energy were so infectious, his brother-in-law Brad Montague decided to put him on video.

Brad Montague
Brad Montague CBS News

"He wakes up and you will ask him, 'How was your day today?' And he'll go, 'Awesome!'" Montague says. "You know, we're really celebrating everything that happens. 'We're alive! Yes!' You know? No matter what."

At first, the videos were just for the family, but once Montague posted them online, Robby's Kid President motivational monologue became an internet sensation -- and even caught the attention of the real president.

Robby says it's "amazing" to see himself in the videos. Asked what is amazing, he responds, "Mostly, making the world a better place."

It's proof that even a boy this fragile can inspire millions to be strong.

Watch: Robby Novak's pep talk has been viewed more than 12 million times.

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