a NOte from will

My name is William Declan, but my family calls me Will. Iron Will to be exact!

I have Down syndrome. 

I was born a couple weeks early on June 12, 2020, weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces, and was 18 ½ inches long. Everyone was so happy to finally meet me!

Yes! I was a surprise. A wonderful surprise!

I have 7 siblings on earth (6 brothers and 1 sister) and 9 in heaven, so yeah, we’re a big family.  And I’m so blessed. I mean, really, I'm living the dream! Each member of my family is my favorite. They love to spend time with me and I love to make them smile.

When my mom and dad told my siblings that I had Down syndrome, one of my brothers said he wished he had Down syndrome too because he knows that extra chromosome means I have a special relationship with God. My family totally gets me! Down syndrome isn’t something to fear. In fact, it’s something to celebrate. I’m really special, and yes, I came with some extra challenges and unknowns, but I also came with an extra cute factor. 

Seriously, I’m not only cute, but I’m super chill. I rarely cry (I’m really tough and even when I’m uncomfortable, I don’t cry). It's just part of my extra chromosome I think. I just turned 3, and my favorite things to do are play the drums, play absolutely any sport they'll let me, and hang out with my siblings. My favorite shows are Dude Perfect and Cocomelon. My favorite food is pizza. And my favorite place to be is outside. 

I hope you enjoy this site. And I hope you learn something about Down syndrome and then share it with the world, because people like me, who are not yet born, need you to be their advocate. People are so afraid, and we need them to know that if they just give us a chance at life, we will surprise them with a love they never knew was possible. We will bring them immense joy, and the minute they hold us, they’ll understand that it’s all going to be okay. 

Love, 

Iron Will