Beautiful story.
Here’s a personal story to go with yours:
My oldest daughter Sky worked with a Down’s syndrome boy named Jamie from 1996 when we were stationed at Malmstrom AFB, MT. In fact she still is friends with him and his entire family.
My very ill mother moved in with our family in May of 2001 because she wanted to die at home, surrounded by family. Jamie was a frequent visitor to our house in the months before she died. My mother really enjoyed him & he always made her smile & had a hug for her.
The day she died I had gone out to the grocery story - the first time I’d left the house in 2 days because I knew she was close to dying. She died while I was in line checking out - my husband called & told me. Later that day we left the house to deal with things.
When I returned & checked voicemail there was Jamie’s voice saying “I’m so sorry that Grandma Mary died, but she is in heaven.” He proceeded, in this beautiful voice to sign the entire song Amazing Grace. Most “normal” people wouldn’t have done something like that - but it was the most loving, caring thing & just what our family needed at that time. I cannot tell you how many times I listened to this young man, probably 15 at the time (not sure of his exact age) sing that song & tell me w/o saying so that he too loved my mom.
That is the type of love people know Down’s syndrome children for - unconditional love. Our world is better for people like Jamie and Trig - this world NEEDS what they have to give.
"I truly believe that the handicapped and mentally challenged people around us are all angels sent from heaven to help show us the way here on Earth."
There was a Down syndrome man who lived in Gladstone, Michigan, a town in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. His name was Mark and he was family to just about everyone in town. In his younger days he would zip around town in a Superman outfit and would play bongo drums for anyone that wanted to listen. He delivered newspapers, bagged groceries, and participated in pub sing-a-longs. He also volunteered everywhere. Everyone had their own personal Mark stories. When he died a few years ago it was the biggest funeral ever held in the Upper Peninsula. The tributes that were left on the funeral home website brought tears and stories of joy to the thousands that read them. I heard that someone is making a book about it.
thanks