Celebrating diversity and distinctions among individuals around the world should be expected, regardless of whatever country or community you reside in. After all, how boring would the world be if we all looked and behaved the same? If you’re having trouble, try something very uninteresting. In recent years, efforts have been undertaken to encourage inclusion in various sectors of life.
Some regions have had more success than others, but the overarching message is clear: just because someone is different from ‘the usual’ does not mean they are incapable of doing amazing things. Just ask Kennedy Garcia, a newborn girl who was advised by doctors to be committed to an institution. Kennedy, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, has Down syndrome, and according to Metro, physicians told her mother that she would have a bad quality of life as a result.
They believed she might have to wear diapers as an adult, and it would be preferable if she were placed in a specialist institution for her own health.Kennedy’s mother, Renee, decided to kick them all ou t of the hospital room. She was not about to give up on her baby, and time has shown that she was smarter than all of the doctors who advised her.
Fast forward to now, and Kennedy has competed in state-wide dance competitions and modeled for major companies in the United States. She also faced cancer, defeating leukemia with iron resolve and unwavering fortitude. Renee told Metro: “The night Kennedy arrived, I was heartbroken to learn she had the disease since I was fed only a negative, dark picture drawn by physicians and nurses who had no idea what my child’s future contained.
“It was only the next night when a kind midwife told me Kennedy was beautiful and just like her daughter, who also had the condition, that I felt a glimmer of hope.”The first question I asked was whether her daughter could walk, as I had no idea what having the disease entailed, and she chuckled. Her daughter was 16, and of course she could walk.”
Kennedy has undoubtedly demonstrated that there are difficulties to be overcome. The child has modelled for American Girl and Justice Clothing and is represented by KMR Diversity and Dream Talent Management. She frequently travels to Hollywood and New York to audition and participate in modeling gigs, but she also enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Matthew, who has Down syndrome.
Renee only has one view about the doctors who wanted Kennedy to be institutionalized. “It’s shocking how misinformed they all were, and it was only 15 years ago,” she went on to say. “I feel sad that I wasted time grieving for moments like prom dress shopping as I really had been led to believe none of the normal milestones would be reached.”
Renee and Kennedy now tour schools, educating children of all ages about Down syndrome and how they may help those with the illness. Kennedy’s social media presence is swiftly growing; she already has nearly 70,000 Instagram followers. “We’re all extremely proud of her and everything she’s accomplished,” Renee told Metro. “She’s a wonderful girl and we are all so lucky to have her in our lives.”
What an incredible story of triumph over adversity and a little girl who refuses to let anything stand in her way. Kennedy’s story is truly heartwarming, and we wish her the best of luck in the future.