For years, many people have attempted to put limits on those with Down syndrome. Some in society claim that they will never amount to anything and will just be a drain on society. Others even try to exterminate them via abortion at the first sight of a diagnosis. But we know the truth: Individuals with Down syndrome are incredible members of society who bring immeasurable joy to their families and those around them. Inspiringly, they continue to break barriers and defy all expectations.
Each year, March 21st is World Down Syndrome Day, and in honor of this holiday, we want to highlight the extraordinary lives of those with Down syndrome. First, let us look at the inspiring life of Karen Gaffeny. She is a well-known advocate for people with disabilities and a powerful force raising awareness and inclusion. Karen’s life has been full of tremendous accomplishments, including swimming across the English Channel, the San Francisco Bay more than 15 times, and swimming across all of Lake Tahoe. In addition to being an incredible athlete, Karen is also an academic success, having earned a doctorate in education focused on disability advocacy. Her story has even been featured in the 2007 documentary “Crossing the Tahoe: A Swimmer’s Dream.”
Karen is not alone in a life of great accomplishments. She is joined by others like Sujeet Desai, a fellow academic and athlete. Sujeet has participated in several Special Olympics events where he excelled. This propelled him to compete in the Special Olympics World Games, where he earned several Olympic medals. Outside of his accomplishments in sports, Sujeet made history as one of the first individuals with Down syndrome to graduate from college in the United States when he earned a degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also an accomplished musician who received a standing ovation at the esteemed Carnegie Hall. Sujeet uses his incredible story to advocate for others in the Down syndrome community and is a moving public speaker. Like Karen, he too has been the star of documentaries, including “A Special Way” and “Sujeet: The Story of a Young Man Who is a Role Model for Us All.”
Others, like Christopher González Caro, known by many as “Chri Sin Límites,” have forged different paths. Chris is a Puerto Rican barista, chef, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur with a large following on social media. In 2020, he became the first person with Down syndrome to own a business when he launched his own food truck. With nearly 65,000 followers on Instagram, he uses his skills to teach others how to cook his famous meals. Chris has been featured by news outlets, independent journalists, and more.
The lives of these overachievers are full of rich accomplishments and tremendous influence. They brighten the lives of those around them and crash through the lies of pro-abortion advocates. It is important to note that even without these incredible accomplishments, their lives would still be sacred. We are all made in the image of God, and each of us is deserving of our fundamental human rights, most notably the right to LIFE.
To help defend life, we have created a landing page on our website full of resources to help parents who have received a Down syndrome diagnosis for their child. Share these resources with your friends, family, and church community so that together we can empower families to choose life. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the lives of those with Down syndrome.
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