Celebrating diversity and differences among people in the world should be a given, no matter which country or society you come from.
How boring would the planet be if we all looked exactly the same and behaved the same? Well, “very boring” is the answer, in case you didn’t know.
In recent years, many efforts have been made to promote integration in various layers of the population. Some areas have been more successful than others, there is no doubt.
But the general message is clear: just because someone is different from ‘the norm’, doesn’t mean they are any less capable of doing amazing things.
Just ask Kennedy Garcia, a girl who doctors believed needed to be institutionalized as a newborn.
Kennedy lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has Down syndrome. According to Metro, the doctors told her mother that this would result in a low quality of life.
Kennedy’s mother Renee chose to kick them all out of the hospital room. She was not going to give up on her baby. And time has proven that she was wiser than all the doctors who had recommended it.
Today, Kennedy has participated in dance competitions across the state and modeled for top brands in the United States. She also battled cancer and overcame leukemia thanks to her iron will and steadfast courage.
Renee told Metro: “The night Kennedy arrived, I was devastated when I heard she had Down syndrome, because all I got was a negative, bleak picture painted by doctors and nurses. They really had no idea what the future held for my child.”
“It wasn’t until the next evening, when a kind nurse told me Kennedy was beautiful, and that her own daughter had Down syndrome too. That’s when I felt a glimmer of hope.”
“The first thing I asked was if her daughter could walk, because I really didn’t know what the condition meant. She just laughed. Her daughter was 16 and of course she could walk.”
Kennedy has certainly shown that obstacles are there to be broken. The young lady has done modeling work for brands like American Girl and Justice Clothing and has a contract with KMR Diversity and Dream Talent Management.
She regularly flies to Hollywood and New York to audition and participate in modeling gigs. Apart from that, she also enjoys spending time with her friend Matthew, who also has Down syndrome.
As for the doctors who wanted to place Kennedy in an institution, Renee has only one response.
“It’s shocking how ill-informed they all were. And this was only 15 years ago,” she said.
“I feel sad that I wasted time grieving for moments like buying a prom dress, because I truly believed she would never reach such milestones.”
Renee and Kennedy now take the time to travel to schools to teach children of all ages what Down syndrome is and how to support people with this condition. Kennedy herself is quickly gaining followers on social media. She already has nearly 70,000 followers on Instagram.
“We are all incredibly proud of her and everything she has achieved,” Renee explained to Metro. “She is an amazing girl and we are all so happy to have her in our lives.”
What a brilliant story of triumph over odds and a little girl who refused to let anything stand in her way. Kennedy’s story really brings a smile to your face – we wish her all the best for the future.
Share this article if you believe that diversity is beautiful, and to pay tribute to this brave girl.
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