Makenna, You Make Me Better

“My daughter Makenna makes me better every day. As a stay-at-home dad, most of my time is spent with her.  We spend a lot of time on therapy sessions, which has taught me to slow down, have patience, and celebrate even the smallest of wins. Joining the Down syndrome community has opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know existed. A world where a complete stranger will celebrate someone who is different. A slower-paced, happier world that has more challenges, but the challenges will only make you stronger and better for yourself and those around you. A world of businesses that embrace and employ those with different abilities. Groups and organizations that exist just to make the world a better place for those who may not have been accepted before. I wouldn’t change my daughter or hope for a different life for anything.

Being her biggest advocate has taken me out of my comfort zone, by speaking to a group of college students about how we received her diagnosis, or being on a local TV show talking about my dads’ group, to doing an Instagram takeover for the local Down syndrome association. I’ve always enjoyed volunteering, but now I get to be a parent mentor, deliver baskets to new families, and raise money for the local buddy walk. When we received her diagnosis, I asked God why us. Well, years before her diagnosis, I asked God to show me where he wanted me to do his work; little did I know it would be in an area I had never experienced or knew anything about. Makenna is the greatest gift I never knew I needed.”

Brandon, Makenna’s Dad (Ohio)