Here is a young man who some would say didn’t get a fair shake in life. That’s not how Owen sees it.
You can read the article about Owen’s heroics here. He even made it on SportsCenter! But that’s not why he’s my hero. Owen is my hero because he’s taken the life he was given and made the most of it. No complaining, no whining, no quitting.
I’ve had the privilege to know several people with Down Syndrome and I can say that every one of them have this same attitude. They are not consumed with worry over what they can’t do. For them, the world is full of possibilities. Of the DS people I know, some are singers and composers, artists, poets, athletes, and even a congressional intern!
Some people in this world think that children like Owen should never have been born. They would counsel parents against going through with the pregnancy because of the many health problems the child will face, and the many sufferings and sacrifices the family will have as a result. Kids like Owen are not viable they say.
To them I say, a good life is not one without pain, a good life is a life well lived.
