From Diagnosis to Joy: Celebrating Down Syndrome 

Being a parent to a newborn is one of life’s greatest gifts. 

But it can also be daunting. While parents are overjoyed by the arrival of this amazing new life, they also want to know that their child will have a bright future. This concern is amplified for parents of newborns with Down syndrome, who are often still wrapping their heads around the diagnosis.  

As these parents search for resources, they’re also seeking something that can’t be found in books, Wikipedia entries, or Ted Talks — they’re looking for reassurance. 

GiGi’s Playhouse provides that reassurance. Lisa, a physician and mother to a beautiful 7-year-old boy with Down syndrome, has a story that perfectly illustrates this. Seven years ago, Lisa gave birth to her son, Joey. Before Joey’s birth, Lisa was informed of potential complications but didn’t learn that Joey had Down syndrome until he arrived. Although Lisa is a doctor with a medical understanding of Down syndrome, she wanted to learn more. 

“As a physician, I know what doctors know about Down syndrome, but not the real practical stuff,” Lisa said. “I wanted to see kids two years, four years, and six years older than Joey and see what our future could look like.” 

That’s where GiGi’s came in. At the time, Lisa lived near our El Paso Playhouse. As luck would have it, within two weeks of Joey’s birth, Nancy Gianni, the founder and Chief Belief Officer of GiGi’s Playhouse, was visiting El Paso for a Down syndrome symposium. Nancy reached out to Lisa and set up a visit to the El Paso Playhouse, where Nancy, Lisa, and Joey met! 

“Nancy loved on Joey and took pictures with him,” Lisa said. “It just gave me joy.” 

Beyond celebrating Joey, Nancy’s visit supplied Lisa with reassurance. Nancy explained that GiGi, Nancy’s daughter and the inspiration of GiGi’s Playhouse, could not make the trip down to El Paso because she was at her high school’s Homecoming.  

To many, this might seem like a minor detail, but to Lisa, it was incredibly significant. 

“It gave me a glimmer of ‘that’s going to be Joey’s future,’” Lisa said. “He’s going to be at Homecoming!” 

That small moment helped Lisa realize just how regular Down syndrome can be. 

“Joey is just a regular kid with just a lot of differences I have to keep in mind,” Lisa said. “He loves to do all the regular stuff: jump, run, dance. He just has different needs and sometimes different experiences that require us learning how to respond to them.” 

Following Nancy’s visit, Lisa and Joey became integral members of the El Paso Playhouse, utilizing our FREE programming and connecting with other families from the Down syndrome community. For a time, Joey was the youngest baby in El Paso’s Language Music N’ Our Peeps (LMNOP) program. He also helped pilot the GiGiFIT infant program.  

Lisa also noted that GiGi’s has also helped her connect with medical leaders and other experts in the Down syndrome community. Though Joey, Lisa, and the rest of the family have moved away from El Paso, they’ve periodically visited both our Sugarland and Houston Playhouses.  

Joey is now 7 years old, in school, and flourishing. He’s living proof that Down syndrome is nothing to fear. It’s a natural part of life that should be celebrated.  

Thankfully, GiGi’s Playhouse is always there to celebrate.