Cecelia, You Make Me Better

“On April 25, 2023, I sent my husband the article introducing the first Barbie made with Down syndrome. Being a Special Education teacher I found this display of inclusivity amazing. Little did we know that a few short hours later, we would get an email about our prenatal screening results. One of our twins had an 87% chance of having Down syndrome. I have been around individuals with various disabilities since a young age so I was very familiar with this diagnosis. My husband on the other hand was not so familiar and just kept asking “Will she be able to know that we love her? Will she be able to express that she loves us?” The only way to determine which twin had Down syndrome was to go through more invasive testing. We both immediately declined, deciding it didn’t make a difference in our journey. In July of 2023, Cecilia was born along with her twin sister, Birdie. Both girls were undeniably perfect. It only took one glance to see Cecilia’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes for us to confirm her Down syndrome diagnosis.

Flash forward a year later and Cecilia has brought so much joy and love to our family. She lights up a room with her smile, laughter, and constant clapping. Her excitement when she sees her siblings, my husband, and myself is truly unmatched. All of my husband’s worries are washed away daily when she snuggles in and flashes that gummy smile. She can show love, and she does feel love. She was perfectly designed for our family and we could not be more grateful that He chose us to be her parents.”

– Courtney and Kevin, Cecelia’s Parents (Ohio)