Eric Wilson

When our first baby, Eric, was born almost 40 years ago in Chattanooga, I must admit John and I were scared and overwhelmed. We were young, just starting our careers, and were mostly just thinking about whether we were having a boy or girl. Ultrasounds were not very clear in 1987! When our pediatrician mentioned Down syndrome, our world changed. We tried to find as much information as we could, but that was before the internet, so finding resources was difficult at best. Most of the information we found was bleak and out of date. Books predicted a sad future. It was at that time that we decided to write a new book and have a new attitude toward Down syndrome. We decided to raise him our own way...or at least try to make the best of it.

We couldn't help it. We fell in love with this beautiful, blond, blue-eyed charmer! Eric proved to be a fighter from the start. He was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's Disease at 5 weeks and underwent two surgeries that weekend and several in the next year or so; he ended up being fed through a catheter in his chest. He was certainly a sick little guy. But he never gave up the fight.

Lucky for him, he got a baby brother and then a baby sister in the next few years. They both agree that Eric has taught them more than they have taught him. John and I wanted to raise our children in the same manner, giving Eric extra support when needed. After a move to Raleigh, NC, we were fortunate to settle in Franklin. We chose this town to offer Eric and his siblings the best education we could find at that time near John's new job.

Inclusion was barely a concept when we moved to Franklin in 1994. He was one of the first in Middle TN to be included in the classroom alongside his peers. John and I believe that this gave him the skills to be gainfully employed at a local grocer after high school. He's been with Publix for almost 17 years. He knows everyone and everyone knows him. That's inclusion!

We discovered early in his life that he was a force to be reckoned with. From the start, he was determined, strong and persistent. It seemed like he could swim from birth! Soon he was swimming laps and learning all of the strokes; his butterfly stroke is a beauty. He had always loved horses and became an accomplished rider. He learned to ride his bike, without training wheels, at a young age, keeping up with his brother. Soon he was trying other sports with Special Olympics..football, basketball, track, snow skiing, golf...you name it. He started weight lifting a few years ago, representing Tennessee in the Nationals. He is a champ with a record of dead lifting 315 pounds and bench pressing 150. He learned to be a winner and, along the way, the more difficult task of being a gracious loser. Outside of Special Olympics, he is an avid photographer, showing what this world looks like from his point of view. At Christmas, he is a local favorite Santa, posing for different groups during the holidays. He went to Santa school to refine his skills.

Most importantly, Eric is an incredible adult. He is kind and respectful, hilarious and a little mischievous. He has a great job where he is valued, a loving family, and a full, meaningful life. He is a beloved son, brother, grandson, friend, co-worker, and will soon be an uncle to the luckiest little nephew.

I wished we could have imagined Eric as adult when he was born. We certainly would not have spent so much time worrying about the future.