Isabelle's Story

Meet Tiny Light Isabelle. This sweet five year old enjoys the simple things in life and loves being around people. Her favorite activities include blowing bubbles, playing with balloons, throwing and kicking a ball, and painting. She also loves playing with her dog Keida and going to kindergarten.

When she was born, Isabelle’s parents were surprised to find out their daughter had Down syndrome. They knew that having a child after the age of 40 was risky, but the pregnancy had gone smoothly and they were assured by their doctor that everything appeared normal. Isabelle spent the first month of her life in the hospital while her mother spent hours traveling back and forth from the hospital to their home to help support Isabelle's older sisters.

 Her parents are concerned about their daughter’s health, social skills, and ability to learn, but Isabelle has proven that she is capable of doing some amazing things. Sometimes her parents worry about her progress in a particular area, but then she’ll surprise them by overcoming yet another obstacle. She has proven time and time again that her diagnosis won’t stop her and her parents hope that with time, she will gain independence and live a happy and fulfilling life.

 While their lives have changed and challenges continue to arise, Isabelle has had an incredibly positive impact on her family. “We have reached milestones together, both successes and failures, which all bring us closer as a family. That's really what it's all about....loving each other for what makes us different. Isabelle reminds us of that every day!”

Story by Emily Harrison