Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Kaylee, I have two girls. Jillian is 8 and Raelynn (DS) is 2. We live in northern Illinois. I love to give back to the community, I love to paint and sew when and if I have time! What’s the one word you would pick to describe Raelynn? Determined. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What has Raelynn taught you? Everyone grows and learns differently; nobody is the same. The more we look toward the “can’ts” and “won’ts” the more we believe that is true. Stay positive and keep pushing forward!! What…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… Hello! My name is Kyler, 33, happily married, and a dad of two, Bennett and Ruby. I’m a born and raised Minnesotan with east coast ties. After spending the last 10 years in Chicago, our family made the move back to the Twin Cities in May. We are enjoying this next chapter of our lives, especially the wonderful schools, resources, and networks now accessible to Bennett, our first-born and child with Down syndrome. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Bennett? Gamer. Not only because that’s what we call his grandfather (long story), but because Bennett is a…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Kelli and I live in Grayslake IL. I am the mom of 2 girls, both with special needs. Laney is 18 months old and has Down syndrome. Macy is 3 years old with Autism. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Laney? Special. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What has Laney taught you? Having a child with Down syndrome has changed our lives for the better. We have learned patience, empathy, patience, understanding, patience, unconditional love, and more. We see how hard Laney works to accomplish goals that come…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Alison and my daughter, Quinn, is almost 4 years old. Quinn was born in Arizona but my husband, Josh, and I decided to move to Florida when Quinn was about 18 months old to be closer to family. Quinn enjoys playing with her baby dolls, playing outside and being with family and friends. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Quinn? One word I would use to describe Quinn would be sassy. She is full of life, brave and feisty! When people are around her, they light up. What would you tell a parent who…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… I’m Christy, mom to Tierney (5) and Kellan (2), who is rocking an extra chromosome. We live with my husband, Matt, and two grumpy cats in Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m training for a half-marathon in November, so most of my free time is spent running and listening to podcasts. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Kellan? Joyful. He’s not always happy, but when he is, he radiates joy and shares it with everyone around him. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What has Kellan taught you? Kellan has taught me that a…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… Alyse & Nick Mastrodonato are proud parents to Conner who is 6 months and we live in Antioch, IL. We love to be outdoors, walking with our pup, snuggling, playing and smiling ALL THE TIME. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Conner? Charismatic. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What has Conner taught you? Conner has taught me to be more accepting, to find the positives in a person, to outweigh their negatives, and to love profusely without hesitation. Down Syndrome is really only different in the number of chromosomes. Everything I’ve…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Cecilia Guizar. I am 23 years old. I live in Los Angeles, CA. My favorite hobbies are dancing, playing with my son, & hanging out with friends. I have a handsome, smart & loving baby boy, Joseph, who is 3 years old. I gave birth to him on March 11, 2016 💙💛 He is such a beautiful, smart and kind boy. He brings so much joy and happiness to a lot of people’s lives. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Joseph? Ambitious. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Kristen Behrens, and I have a two-year-old named Juliana & a three-year-old named Jackson. What is your experience with Down syndrome? I came into contact with Hudson when he was an infant. I was merely surviving – not thriving as a mom. At the time, I had a CRAZY 21-month-old boy and a 3-month-old baby girl. I joined a group called Stroller Strides – both seeking a community and an hour where I could work out a few times per week. Hollyce and Hudson joined around the same time as me. Hollyce was on maternity leave, and…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… My name is Angie. I’m married to Maceo. We have 3 children. Lincoln is our youngest. He is 4 years old and has Down Syndrome. We are an athletic family and so we love all sports. We spend a lot of time watching our children play. What’s the one word you would pick to describe Lincoln? Kind. What do you want the world to know about Down syndrome? What has Lincoln taught you? I would like for everyone to know that Down Syndrome is not scary. Lincoln has taught us great things already!! Patience, kindness through anything, love for everyone!…

Tell us a little bit about you and your family… I am Jenness, mama to five with Teddy (Ds) being the youngest. I am a nationally certified school nurse and we live in Libertyville, IL. I love to read, cook, and garden, and I used to be an equestrian before kids and grown-up life happened. Teddy is three and loves gymnastics, horseback riding, soccer, baseball, golf, and pretty much any other sport. He also loves to play with his cars and trucks and point out every car, truck, bus, plane, or motorcycle we see on the road. He goes to school four mornings a week and he loves to ride…