Daniel Rivas planned to go to homecoming. He really wanted it. What's the
matter? No one wanted to go on a date with him.
Too often, the nicest things are forgotten. When you're busy with your own
problems, it's easy to forget about other people's. One person who isn't
affected by this bad trend is Kylie Fronius.
There was a time in 2016 when Kylie Fronius was in the 10th grade in the
Las Vegas area. She did everything she could to make sure Daniel Rivas had
the best homecoming ever. Daniel has Down syndrome, but Kylie made it clear
that she doesn't see him as disabled; she just sees him as someone who
learns in a different way. Kylie chose to make sure Daniel could enjoy
homecoming, which is something every high school student hopes to do.
Kylie Fronius made a big sign to ask Daniel Rivas to go to the dance. When
Fox5 News Las Vegas heard about it, they decided to feature Daniel and
Kylie's story on their "Surprise Squad" show. There was a dress, a tux,
flowers, a nice meal before the dance, a van ride, and even a red carpet for
the two high school students. While Kylie, Fox5 News Las Vegas, and the
community were making Daniel's wish come true, Daniel's mom also went on the
show to thank them. This act of kindness set off a chain reaction that will
go down in history, and the details are what make it so interesting to
read.
As with many people who have Down syndrome, Daniel Rivas has had to deal
with a lot of prejudice because of it.
But Kylie Fronius, who was in 10th grade at the time, said she doesn't
think Daniel is crippled, which is why she asked him to the homecoming
dance. Kylie said that having Down syndrome is not a disability; it just
means that you learn in a different way. As a surprise, Fox5 News Las Vegas
showed up with a mobile news crew on that special day and asked Kylie how
she sees Daniel:
"When I think of kids with disabilities... They don't seem different to me.
I see them as just another person learning in a different way... She said,
"I hope I can make his night fun."
Daniel Rivas is one of many people who have Down syndrome. One of the most
common genetic diseases in the world is Down syndrome. A study from 2010 by
the Department of Pediatrics in the Netherlands found that about 1 in 1,000
babies born each year around the world have a form of Down syndrome. In the
United States, the National Drown Syndrome Society (NDSS) says that the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that 1 in 700 kids born
each year have it.
The exact reason why so many people have this genetic problem is still
unknown. As far as scientists know now, Down syndrome is not passed down
through families. Almost all children with Down syndrome are born to parents
who have the normal number of chromosomes. Only 1% of known cases have been
passed down from one parent.
Statistics from the NDSS show that a woman who is 35 years old has a 1 in
350 chance of having a child with Down syndrome. This chance slowly
increases with age, hitting 1 in 100 at age 40. By age 49, the chance is
thought to be 1 in 10. Down Syndrome cases have been going up over the last
few years, along with the number of couples choosing to have children later
in life. This is because more and more easy tests can be done during early
pregnancy.
Even though Down syndrome can't be "cured," it's also not an impossible
problem to solve. Physical and mental development happens more slowly in
children who are born with it than in healthy children. Also, every child
and person with Down syndrome is unique. This means that there are a lot of
different signs and stages of growth that can happen. Taking care of and
teaching kids born with trisomy 21, which is another name for Down syndrome,
usually takes more time, but it is possible and worth it. In the United
States, 40% of kids with Down syndrome who go to high school finish it. A
lot of them get stable jobs and live on their own, but most of them still
need help with their money.
Tonya, Daniel's mom, was moved by what Kylie did. What Tonya said:
"It's not about the fact that Daniel is disabled. It was Kylie who didn't
see any issue. As a mom, that's what you want...It means so much to me that
someone took the time to take my son to homecoming.
Fox5 News Las Vegas wanted to show off Kylie's "proposal" after hearing the
news. They thought that everyone could learn from Kylie's actions. Kylie and
Daniel didn't know it, but Fox5 had something even bigger planned for
them.
"Surprise Squad" on Fox5 is supported by United Nissan and America First
Credit Union. Monica Jackson was the face of the charity project before she
left Fox5 in 2018. The teens will have dinner at a fancy nearby restaurant
before homecoming thanks to the Surprise Squad. Tonya broke down in tears as
she talked about how often she walked by that place but knew she and her
family could never afford to eat there. This is what the restaurant's cook
said:
"This is home, and Daniel likes spaghetti with meatballs like his mama
makes at home." What ever you guys want, just place your order."
Fox5 then sent a Rolls Royce to pick up Kylie and Daniel so they could get
to the homecoming dance in style. Monica told the kids that their story has
"touched so many people," which was true.
Even after Kylie and Daniel got to the party, they were still treated like
stars. They danced with each other for a while before Monica Jackson and the
Fox5 News team came back. She said there was still fun to be had! Jackson
said that the kids and their families got two free trips to Disney Land
thanks to Fox5. The station wanted to praise Kylie for her amazing act of
kindness.
Both Kylie and Daniel are now well-known on their own. Fox5 put a video of
the kids' amazing return moment on YouTube, and it has been going viral all
over the internet. Kylie and Daniel's story should inspire others to act in
a way that makes everyone feel like they can enjoy prom or a homecoming
dance together, no matter how different they are. We will never forget this
kind deed.
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