6 minute read
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
In Honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month
PAIGE YOHE
Paige is posing for the camera after choosing her own well-matched outfit.
AYOMIDE(I-YO-ME-DAY)
Ayo was playing outside with her brothers, telling them what to do, because she is the boss!
LILY BONNELL
Lily was having a great time at a school event!
BRYLEIGH BOYER
We did a fun dress-up session in Mommy’s studio. I asked Bry to be serious and this is the response. She NAILED it!!
NAVY GRANBERRY
Navy is 4 and so full of life and energy! She keeps us on our toes for sure! She’s got the most beautiful smile!
ELIJAH KOTTLOWSKI
Eli showing his classic smiles
GABRIEL NOLTING
This was the night before his 14th birthday. He wanted his favorite food, tacos!
TYLER ROBBINS
This photo is super special to our family. Tyler enjoy doing everything his big brothers Dallas and Joel do. Tyler LOVES scouts. He loves all the activities at meetings and enjoys the activities in the community he gets to be a part of. My husband Jay has been a leader since our oldest was little. I love that all four of them are building so many core memories and learning many life lessons along the way. I am a very proud scout mom.
KADENCE AKA “KADIE”
Kadence was gifted her very first bike, a Rifton by ACOLF, and made specifically for her abilities. This was such a big, exciting moment for us all. She has been wanting to ride a bike like all her friends for so long. We even got her a kid Peloton, but it had its challenges when trying it out on a non-stationary bike. She felt so defeated. It was a huge moment for her and for us as her parents to see her finally have something that allowed her to ride like her friends. This pic seems so minute, yet it is so monumental for a family of a special needs child, and her big smile says just that! We couldn’t be more proud of her and her hard work to get here!
NORA KATE TANOOS
Nora celebrating the 4th of July. The fireworks bring new meaning after having cochlear implant surgery in 2020. She was born with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, so she is deaf. After not one, not two, but THREE professional medical opinions, we were told she’d have a 20% chance of the implants working. Guess what? They did! She now has access to sound and while she is still nonverbal, she uses sign language and understands when you talk to her. She is such a shining light and brightens the lives of everyone she connects with!
CHLOE MADELYN LOUCKS
This is Chloe a little over a month after open heart surgery and recently progressing in her feeding skills. She has always been a ray of sunshine, but she is truly coming into her own at 7 months. This photo was taken during an afternoon of play with her big sister.
PETER SIMA
Peter just completed his first sprint triathlon. With his oldest brother’s support, they swam 200m; biked 12 miles, and ran a 5K, finishing with a flourish!
CAITLIN DUGGINS
Caitlin loves horses! She’s with our horse, Scooter, in this picture! We started out with Equiventure and then ended up getting our own horse! Their bond is incredible!
BRIANNA GALYAN
Brianna was in the Queen contest for both The Monroe County Fair and the Monroe County Fall Festival and won Miss Congeniality in both!
DOMINIC
This is a photo of Dominic on a pirate ship in Destin, FL. We went to Florida to celebrate his second birthday. He was a pirate on the loose!
ROBBY KEAFER
This is the dance party on the Saturday night of the Indiana Special Olympics State Games in 2023. Robby loves to dance and would dance all night if allowed!
WESTLYNN SHEPHERD
Westlynn was enjoying a “mommy and me” morning while we waited for the annual Memorial Day parade to begin in New Castle, IN. She loves sprinkle donuts and orange juice, so she was enjoying a sprinkle donut while we waited.
EMMY ANDERSON
There is no one that Emmy loves more than her sister, Mira. Even if she’s just passing by Mira, Emmy is immediately smiling and excited to see her.
ISAAC LUKE JONES
This photo was taken for Isaac’s first birthday celebration.
CHANCE GADSON
He likes to dress up for school, carrying his briefcase with little people and an old house phone.
KY
Ky is 7 and loves music. This is his “I want to rock” photo!
PEYTON HAVILAND
This photo was taken at Hobson’s Adventure Farm in Rockville, Indiana. We were there with our local Terre Haute chapter of Down Syndrome Indiana. Peyton loves adventures and meeting up with his friends to have fun! We love our DSI family.
OLIVER KING
Oliver is showing off his walking skills and getting ready for story hour at a local bookstore. He loves exploring new things with his family.
CAIRON MAJORS
He was at the Children’s Museum during summer camp.
SOPHIA STEBING
My two sweet girls at Costco
