Dear Target,

Dear Target,
When my son Ronin was born with Down syndrome two years ago, we were shocked and scared but also saddened. Not saddened by the fact he had Down syndrome but by how we knew society would view him.  What would his future be like?
So today, I never imagined in my wildest dreams that my son would be featured in your advertisement three times, with the latest being in your annual Toy book.  You CHOSE to feature two children with Down syndrome and one child in a wheelchair in this year's toy book  and its freaking awesome!
 When I think of inclusion, I think of you Target and thank you!!  By featuring my son in your advertising, you are showing society that all people matter and all people should be treated like everyone else.  And now in my case I can show the world that Down syndrome isn't scary, the possibilities are endless, and most importantly my son and our family are not suffering.  Ronin is the blessing I never knew I needed.  How did I get so lucky?
So cheers to you Target for leading the way in this important mission. I hope many more companies and most importantly people will make inclusion happen and make it stay!

From
Ronin's Mom
Erin

Changing the heart of beauty

Seeing a model with Down syndrome  walk down the runway is a new exciting sight to see. It's exciting because its different. Before last year it was not seen or talked about. Seeing Izzy in the Target ad last year started a huge surge of awareness for Down syndrome and also the lack of models with different abilities being featured in ads and media.  This paved the way for Ronin to be featured in a Target social media ad on Pinterest and just a few weeks ago he was in a Target web commercial for baby food.  It was super exciting for our family to see him model for Target. "Model and Down syndrome" , I never thought those two words would ever be in the same sentence.
I've read multiple articles on social media and have seen all the comments online. You get an array of comments from all types of people.  There are more supporters than the usual "internet trolls".  To really know where you stand on an issue, you need to hear what the other side thinks and their reasoning.  So while reading some comments, a few words from a commenters were "exploitation" and "trend" and those words really had me start to think.

Inclusion is our main goal with society today but it isn't just what is seen though.
While we see Madeline on the runway, is there more inclusion going on behind the scenes? Are people thoughts and hearts being changed in the process? This is the inclusion that is the most important to me.  Do people involved with our models still use the "R" word as the adjective of choice? Do they place limits on those deemed different? Do they support the termination of pregnancy that comes back with a positive trisomy genetic screening? If Ronin was given the chance to model on the runway but the designer showed that his/her actions and personal words have not changed, i would not encourage my son to model in the show or would pull my son from the company's photo shoot.  Inclusion isn't a trend. Its not here today, gone tomorrow.  It is the words and actions of society that fuels inclusion.

If the inclusion we see is not fueled by the inclusion of word and actions what is the point of it all? Society will not change and will revert back to its old, comfortable ways.

The hope is that one day models of  different abilities wont be news or given a double look. I am glad it is starting now and will be excited to see what the future may hold for our children with Down syndrome.  The sky is their limit, especially when others do not place limits on them.

The Works of God

God has really been preparing me my whole life for Ronin.  Its the littlest encounters and clues that he gives you to reveal his large puzzle called life.  When you can start putting the pieces together, you come to an understanding and to a trust with God that he knows what he is doing and that its something greater than yourself.

I remember all the way back to elementary school. The kids with special needs came to our class for a visit.  I hadn't met anyone before that had special needs but was instantly drawn to their energy.  I've always been the mothering type; making sure everyone was fair, everyone got the same amount of m&ms, making sure no child was ever made fun of and if so i tattled to the nearest adult I could find.  I felt like a very protective mother when they got to be included in our class for the one day.There was a boy that stood out and I still remember him until this day. His name was Reggie and he was developmentally delayed. He was the tallest in the class, lanky with the best smile. After that day, I would see him around the school and was able to now say hello to him by his name. I think that made his day and it made my day that he was happy.  I never saw him again after elementary school but he made an impact on my life.

My direct connection to Down syndrome which has been a big piece to our puzzle has been my own cousin having Down syndrome also.  He is probably about 4 years younger than me and lives in Vietnam.  We have never met but we would always receive photos of the family and send letter and gifts.  I never really knew what Down syndrome meant, besides looking a little different than others.  I wasn't sure if Ronin's karyotype would show as the translocation type that may run in family's.  I'm not sure if they they my cousin's Cu Ly's karyotype but Ronin's is just non-disjunction trisomy 21.  So I guess my aunt and I just both hit the lottery with Cu Ly and Ronin.  I hope one day to travel to Vietnam to meet everyone.

While pregnant with Ronin, I had many encounters with people with Down syndrome and saw so many more people with Down syndrome at my job.  I actually had the thought that "Maybe my baby has Down syndrome"  because of this.  So I see that as my sign from God during my pregnancy.  It may not have meant anything at that moment but it was definitely a little hint of what was to come.

 These are they key memories that have served my heart into knowing that God was preparing me my whole life to be Ronin's mother.  Many people question why would a loving God even make people with special needs?  .

 John 9:1-3 

"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind"?  "Neither this man nor his parents sinned" said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

That's right. Ronin is a work of God. We all are. Ronin's purpose is just a little different and more defined.  His smile, I see God in his smile everyday and it really makes everything ok again.   Two years have passed since I started writing my story. My story is like a flower, blooming more and more each day.  With God's nuturing, love and patience Ronin will be the most beautiful flower this world has ever seen.  The seeds of God's hope will be planted on this earth through Ronin and the millions of other children who are meant to be here to show the good works of the Lord.

Amen.