“Different is great and nothing to be scared of.”

“Different is great and nothing to be scared of.” thumbnail.

Although we have been through so many challenges with Jacob, our son with Down syndrome, he is always the light at the end of our tunnel. He is always the smile that keeps us singing through the hard times.

By the time he was one year old he had fought through life threatening infections, open heart surgery and even a dangerous medication overdose. When he was two and a half he learned to walk in the hospital corridors while his baby sister was being born.

He hasn’t had an easy road but with every challenge he surprises us and keeps smiling through it all. Having Jacob is like having your own little Kardashian – because we live in a regional centre everyone knows his name and knows us as Jacob’s mum, Jacob’s dad and Jacob’s little sister!

I grew up with a child with Down syndrome in my class at school. I am happy to see so many children at Jacob’s school will also grow up learning that different is great and nothing to be scared of. We are excited that Jacob has so many role models around the world doing things that were never imagined for people with Down syndrome when I was a child. We are excited for what the future holds for his generation!