Strength, Love, and an Extra Chromosome

Some stories make us laugh. Some stories make us cry. The great stories make us do both. The same can be said for interviews. When I sat down with the Link family to talk about their son who has Down syndrome, there were a lot of laughs and also a few barely contained tears.

I am friends with this family. Their kids are good pals with my kids. Their oldest has babysat my youngest. Knowing them, meant I felt the pressure to get their story right, and I hope I did them justice.

Their story is one of love, strength, compassion, hope, and inclusion. Their son encompasses all of these things and more. He is a friend, a student, and a warrior when it comes to shouldering medical procedures and hospital visits. His sisters and parents are rock stars in their own right, as they choose to focus on the positives in life and to always be grateful for what they have and not what is missing.

I learned a lot from the Link family in writing this piece. I hope others can also benefit from my article in the Dakota Dunes/North Sioux City Times. It is currently not available online, but to order an issue or subscription, please click here.

March 21st was Down Syndrome Day, but those with Trisomy 21 should be celebrated each and every day. While COVID-19 has us all practicing the art of social distancing, I hope it will feel good to read a story about a great family and their strong son.

To quote his mom, “We have strength, we have love, and our little guy has an extra chromosome that makes him extraordinary.”