Tate, You Make Me Better

Ten months ago, I met someone who would quietly, profoundly, and beautifully change the very core of who I am. His name is Tate. He arrived on November 8th, nestled in my arms, swaddled in innocence, and carrying a surprise that would send my heart into both a spiral and a soaring flight – Tate was born with Down syndrome.

His diagnosis was unexpected. The words landed like a quiet storm in the delivery room; no loud crash, just a gentle settling of something heavy. In those early days, grief met us in hushed moments. There was shock, fear, and the aching grief of the life we thought we were going to have. I remember holding him, staring at his perfect little face, and wondering if I was strong enough, if we were strong enough, to walk this road. But what I didn’t realize then was that Tate had already given me his answer.

From the moment he took his first breath, Tate has been defying odds. Every milestone he reaches, no matter how small, is a celebration of perseverance and grace. He’s teaching me to slow down, to see beauty where I once saw routine, to find strength in softness, and to love more deeply than I ever knew possible.

The things that once seemed important have faded behind the glow of what is. His smile can quiet any storm inside me. His laugh? It’s a melody I never knew my heart needed to hear. He’s not just our son – he’s our teacher, our light, our daily reminder that joy isn’t found in perfection; it’s found in presence.

And oh, how his big brother and sister adore him. Reese and Carson have wrapped Tate in a love so pure, so fiercely protective and proud, that it often brings tears to my eyes. They read to him, sing to him, celebrate every coo, every new expression. They don’t see a diagnosis; they see their baby brother, their joy, their sunshine. I watch them and realize that Tate isn’t just making me better, he’s making all of us better.

Tate came into our lives with a diagnosis we never expected, and he brought with him a kind of love we never imagined. Every day with him is a chapter in a story I didn’t know I was brave enough to write. And it’s the most beautiful story I’ve ever lived.

Shannon, Tate’s Mom (Michigan)