When my husband and I were caught off-guard nineteen years ago when our daughter Julia was born with Down Syndrome (I was only twenty-four years old), we had a lot of, “What if’s?”…
Preface January 1980 Staring at the hand outstretched to help me up, I felt cold, clammy and humiliated. I could already feel the ice and moisture seeping through the bottom of my…
I have many things to be thankful for. For one, my family and friends. I live with my mom and dad and two sisters. I am the oldest and 19 years…
I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia and had a “ charmed” existence. Amazing parents, two brothers, beautiful house …the works! I have such wonderful memories of what I thought was the…
“An “old soul’ is a person wise beyond their years; people of emotional stability that appear to have more understanding of the world around them, regardless of their age.” Preface January 1983…
Preface October 1977 Buzzzzzzzz! The noise of the mosquitos flying around my head was so unbearable, I didn’t mind the oppressive heat, even late into the night. My brothers, Peter…
Preface October 1987 “By definition, atmospheric or air pressure is the force per unit of area exerted on the Earth’s surface by the weight of the air above the surface. The force…
I grew up in Canada and was gifted in whatever sport I decided to participate in. Football – recruited by a top University. Hockey – played with a number of buddies who went…
Third grade. Chopped and mopped bob of milk chocolate hair on my head with razored bangs and hopelessly trustful baby brown eyes. I go to school blissfully unaware of my difference. Like any…
Within every interaction we encounter, we are teaching the world around us how we wish to be treated. Hi, I am the current Miss Iowa, Nicole Kelly. Believe it or not, did…
There is an expression, “Age is but a number.”Well yes, that is true. However, by that logic birthdays are but numbers, time is but a number, years are but a number, even YOU…
“Courage is Knowing What Not to Fear” –Plato We all start out so unabashedly unashamed. Whatever makes us unique and special, we regard without concern; we flaunt it without a care. Then…
It seems that over the past 6 or 7 years there has been an increase of children with Trisomy 21, Down Syndrome, winning pageants, scoring touchdowns and being elected prom king/queen. My oldest…