I started to write this post and had to completely delete everything I wrote. This is the second time I had to delete everything I wrote and had to rewrite it. “Why?”  A couple of reasons. It is because sometimes the truth is bittersweet and is hard to share. The second reason is because it took third graders to make me realize the truth actually outweighs all the negatives by a million! The best part I wait to share at the end.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  We use this month to celebrate individuals and all of their abilities and their accomplishments they have made, and we continue to advocate for inclusion!  Believe it or not we still battle with discrimination.  We continue to fight for Down syndrome rights and inclusion for our children, teens, adults, sisters, brothers, friends, and loved ones.

Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age, or sexual orientation. (Racism, Bias, and Discrimination. American Psychology Association 2024.)

Organ transplants were legalized a few years ago. Individuals with Down syndrome are still being discriminated against. There are doctors that feel as though individuals with Down syndrome are unable to care for themselves after the procedure. Half of the individuals that even need a referral to the specialist don’t even get the referral due to discrimination. To think there is even discrimination in the healthcare industry makes me sick. It is not their job to decide what a person can or cannot do. It is their job to place a referral and to allow the specialist to determine if the individual needs the transplant. If the individual can’t take care of themselves, I bet there is someone in their life that can help them take care of their wounds and help with their medications. That is ultimately up to the patient and the guardian. NOT the doctor.

What are some of your favorite things about Oliver?

He is caring. If I am upset about something, he will come up to me, give me a hug, look at me with his bright blue eyes and say, “ok?” Oliver is fun. He loves to go outside to hangout. We jump on the trampoline and he will lay/swing on the saucer or the platform tree swing. He has taught me how to be efficient and care for myself and others.

What are some of your least favorite things about Oliver?

Oliver can be a lot of work. He can get into things really fast and make messes really fast! I am not sure if you know, but the candy Nerds are really hard to clean up off of a hard wood floor. He might have dumped an entire big box out and they went everywhere. That was fun!

If you you could use use one word to describe Oliver, what would it be?

Heart-Full (I am not sure that is one word)

Favorite things to do with Oliver?

Take him on the four wheeler, take him to Tropical Smoothie to grab smoothies, and of course to wrestle him.

If you could change one thing in the world for Oliver, what would it be and why?

His acceptance rate! Does that make sense!? For those of you that it doesn’t make sense, spend some time with him out in public and you will see why.

If I am at home or go shopping and I am living in my own little bubble, I am doing great. If I see other kids Oliver’s age, it is easy to get discouraged or to get upset. Oliver goes to Lifewise Academy which is a bible school during school hours. My mother-in-law, Jane, is one of the teachers and rides the “big red bus” with the kids. They were on their way back to school when one of the kids asked why Oliver couldn’t talk. Jane shared with him that he is just a little different than everyone else, but he is more like them than different. One of the other kids yelled, “yeah, he is strong”. Another said, “he is fast”. Then another said, “he likes to wrestle”. That was all Oliver needed to hear! Oliver jumped out of his seat and started to wrestle! I think he has a future in wrestling. He is fast, he can throw a ball, he can wrestle, and he gives the best hugs!

Charlie’s biggest fan! Oliver inappropriately claps for the opposing team. (We do let him clap for everyone even though we are cringing inside!)