Life is unpredictable, that's the point. Surprises may come in a variety of
shapes and sizes, and you never quite know what is around the next
corner.
One of those shocks for parents Julie and Dan McConnel was the birth of
their twins Milo and Charlie. The boys were born with Down's syndrome, which
often poses a variety of special difficulties for parents.
Milo and Charlie, however, have been two shining lights of happiness for
Julie and Dan. Indeed, thanks to the internet, their impact is growing all
over the world for the finest reasons...
Many children born with Down syndrome struggle to learn in the same manner
that other children do, and they may also have a variety of medical
ailments. Simply said, having Down's syndrome is not a simple
condition.
But Julie and Dan McConnel are determined to demonstrate to the world the
goodness their twin boys represent. They want to eliminate the stigma
associated with Down syndrome, and they're doing it by using the enormous
power of social media.
"I'm hoping to draw families whose children have been diagnosed with Down
syndrome since it can be a really dreadful time. Julie told WTSP 10 News, "I
hope others will discover us and understand that this is what life can be
like.
"It's not terrifying, it's full of love, and it can be enjoyable. I really
wish others can see how happy and without regrets we are in our life.
The McDonnel family wants to create a community where parents who are
unfamiliar with Down syndrome may be informed and made aware of the
unexpected blessings a diagnosis can bring.
They take a bit longer to reach milestones, but when they do, she added,
"we rejoice like no other parents alive." When they succeed, "we throw a
celebration and we are really happy for them,"
Being fraternal twins with Down's syndrome, Charlie and Milo are extremely
unusual; it's estimated that they are one in every 14 million cases.
"We hope that people will see us and remember us and that things will
continue to improve in our communities with lots of acceptance," Dan said.
"It's important to show everyone else that we are here and that there are
all these kids in our town."
It's an exciting moment to be a parent of a kid with Down syndrome, Julie
said. "We're standing on the shoulders of previous parents who have paved
the road for all these things to happen," she said. "I want to watch them
mature and pursue their interests."
We find Julie and Dan's attitude toward their kids to be quite admirable.
By allowing them to become so well-known and just by being positive, they
are increasing awareness of the disease, which can only be beneficial!
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Internet