Meet Ember!

“Ember was born with Down syndrome. When we’re out and about other kids his age stop and stare at him, then ask their parents, “what’s wrong with him?”. It hurts that most kids don’t know about Down syndrome. I don’t want my son growing up thinking strangers think there’s something “wrong” with him. Raising awareness is so important.

Ember had open heart surgery to successfully repair a heart defect. Ember is developmentally delayed. He has not began talking yet. He had been attending speech therapy to help encourage verbal communication but he was not interested.
Ember’s teachers decided to give technology a try and they have been working with him with an iPad with a communication app. This program has been a blessing. He is now able to tell people what he feels and wants. I’m so proud of my son. He still gets frustrated because he can’t talk or keep up with his peers but he never gives up.

Ember recently got very sick with pneumonia and was in the hospital for two weeks. He had to draw blood and do x-rays everyday. He didn’t understand what was going on or why they kept hurting him. It was beyond heart breaking that I couldn’t explain to him that this was all going to make him better. I just had to help hold him down (because he’s very strong and put up a fight) and watch him look at me with the sadist helpless look in his eyes.
For a 7 year old Ember has been through so much and got through it all and is still a happy loving little boy. He changed my life for the better. I’m so proud to be his mother.”
Love, Ember’s momma

PHOTOGRAPHY DONATED BY STEPHANIE ROSENTHAL