VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — JCPenney is celebrating "joy, comfort and peace" this holiday season with a new commercial featuring diverse families across the world. The Pocta Family, of Virginia Beach, was selected to be a part of the joyous occasion.
The Poctas have a unique family dynamic as a blended multi-racial family, including two children who use wheelchairs. Maria and Andrew Joseph Pocta both have "Spina Bifida," a birth defect that occurs when the spine doesn't develop normally.
The family's mother, Cristina, tells News 3 that despite the world not being as accessible for disabled people, they find different ways to break barriers by finding joy in everyday life.
"We have had to persevere and choose joy in the midst of hard moments for the kids because they were both born with Spina Bifida and they are both wheelchair users, but we don't use the word 'wheelchair-bound,' because they are boundless," said Cristina.
The commercial features a variety of families with different ethnicities and age ranges. A same-sex couple also participated in the holiday commercial.
JCPenney chose to feature real families that represent the pillars of joy during the holiday with the hope that people will be inspired to cherish their own loved ones.
The Pocta family tells News 3 they hope the commercial will be inspirational for other families who may be facing the same challenges as them.
"For other kids to see that they are not alone, that there are other people with disabilities, so like in their suffering I also have suffering, so like we’re in it together, so like they feel united," said Maria Pocta.
The commercial will air throughout December. To watch the full video, click here.
To connect with the Pocta Family, follow them on Instagram @the_poctas
