Frank, You Make Me Better

Frank is our first child, and we were completely and utterly shocked when the doctors told us he had Down syndrome. We truly had no idea.

We can’t imagine a world without Mr. Frank. He is adored by everyone who meets him, all ages. At his therapy sessions, the staff light up the moment he arrives — “Mr. Frank! Mr. Frank!” His presence is just uplifting. His cousins are obsessed with him as well. They run through the door asking, “Where’s Mr. Frank?” He has this joyful, high-frequency energy that captures the room. Even at such a young age, he has this remarkable way of allowing others to feel their emotions, which is a spectacular gift.

Before Frank, we weren’t familiar with the Down syndrome community. We didn’t know anyone with Down syndrome and had never really thought about it. His diagnosis was something completely new and, at first, scary because we didn’t know what to expect. Now, it’s surprising to look back and realize how differently people with Down syndrome are often portrayed. Our experience has been the complete opposite. Frank attends his therapy sessions, but otherwise has the same schedule as a “typical” child.

Frank is just our son. It’s hard to even put into words, because at the end of the day, he’s simply Frank. And he is awesome.

-Amy, Frank’s Mom (South Carolina)