CROSBY

PHOTO BY RANDY BACON

CROSBY

“Enriched by Love and Positivity”

(Story written by Crosby's dad, Nicolas)

Crosby tends to be a crowd favorite and have a celebrity status among other kids. He knows no stranger and has an impact that often surprises us. Whether we are boarding a plane or walking into his favorite coffee shop, he is constantly surveying the people and seems to have a sixth sense for who needs a smile, or a high five, or to feel special. It makes him sad to see others unhappy and he often picks out the grumpiest looking person in the crowd and makes a point to toddle over to them or smile and wave. He has a unique aura and seems to break through even the hardest, gruffest exterior with a big ole hug and a gigantic smile.

I wish more people understood that even though it may take a little longer, kids with Down syndrome are capable of doing what typical kids do. Crosby is just a normal kid. He loves to play in the dirt, roughhouse with his cousins, and goof around with this sister. He may look a little different and have different development delays, but that does not take away from the loving spirit inside him. He deserves to be treated like any other child.

One of the hardest parts of our journey is misunderstanding and isolation. You may meet people who shy away or pull their kids back like Down syndrome is something than can catch, rather than a difference to be celebrated. The unspoken fear…of him, or of saying the wrong thing, or doing the wrong thing…sometimes keeps people distant.

But Crosby is a kid enriched by love and positivity. The more you provide, the bigger the smile you get from him. Mentions of the word love around Crosby usually prompt a hug or an “I love YOU!!!” with a big cheer. We can only imagine that love means happiness and joy to him. Beyond that, we hope he understands love to be the way his family looks at him. We don’t see him as Down syndrome. We just see Crosby.

Our dream is that he’ll grow up knowing the true meaning of love and he’ll understand that with hard work you can accomplish your goals. Sometimes you fail, but you always gain wisdom from these events. I envision Crosby going to school, living independently and having a successful life, giving back to his community as a valuable resource for those around him.

But really, my biggest dream for Crosby is that the world doesn’t ruin him. That he spends the rest of his life as full of joy and compassion, just like he is now. That he will always have the ability to look past the gruff exterior, or sad face, or disheveled hair and see the people who really need a hug or smile, even when the rest of us look right past them. That he will never understand that there are people who will value him less or judge him more because of the extra chromosome. I hope others can see Crosby the same way we do - a kid who is growing up in a world that will accept him for the person he is becoming and not on a diagnosis.