Dreams Do Come True

Nolan is a 6-year-old aspiring news anchor who happens to have Down syndrome. While he has yet to see an individual with Down syndrome reporting the news, he is no stranger to being in a news story. It was through an August Positively Fort Wayne segment about Food Truck Wednesdays at GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne that Nolan fell in love with interviewing and aspired to be like Pat Hoffmann from WANE 15. Pat took notice of Nolan’s newfound passion and gifted him a WANE 15 microphone. Immediately, Nolan began practicing his interview skills and watching the morning news every weekday before school so he could say hi to morning anchors, Pat Hoffmann and Emily Dwire.

While practicing interviewing siblings, the family dog, and countless others, Nolan was not only gaining confidence, but he was also improving on his speech, vocabulary, and personal information! Prior to interviewing, Nolan was not able to state which city he is from. Now, he can to tell you that he lives in Fort Wayne. Nolan and Pat continued to keep in touch and even ran into each other while Pat was filming another Positively Fort Wayne segment about a baseball camp he was attending.

During Fall break from school, Nolan had the opportunity to live out his dream! Nolan went to visit his friends that he says good morning to every weekday, Pat Hoffmann and Emily Dwire from WANE 15. He got dressed in his finest news anchor outfit and walked with confidence into the studio. When the lights came on, the magic came to life. “Amazing,” Nolan exclaimed with eyes so big. He immediately started walking around the studio and standing in awe of all the lights, cameras, screens, and talking to Pat and Emily. They explained how to do an intro and Nolan would practice with them. He spun around in the news chair, admiring seeing his face on the big screen. He practiced interviewing Pat at the news desk and even got a chance to hop in front of the green screen! His magical morning ended with nonstop hugs for his news anchor friends and a passion that grew even stronger.

Nolan’s family is so incredibly grateful to WANE 15, Pat Hoffmann, and Emily Dwire for encouraging and supporting Nolan’s dreams and aspirations to be the first news reporter who has Down syndrome. It just takes one person to say yes and give an opportunity for dreams to become a reality.