I learned early on the importance of respecting people for who they are, despite differences. I think most people can agree that it is a basic moral lesson. Regretfully, there are still those who do not understand the value of basic acceptance and kindness.
A recent horrific event at Disney World brought to light the abhorrent depths of some people’s conduct. A brawl broke out at Belle Vue Lounge, a bar within the Boardwalk Inn, on January 25, leading to the arrest of Brent George, a 61-year-old man. Brent claimed to have been attacked by a nearby family he had been drinking with when police came. He had cuts and bruises on his face.
But more research told a different story. According to the family, a drunken Brent had come up to their table and started making fun of their sister, who has Down syndrome, by mimicking her sporadic grunts. Brent shoved the girl’s mother as she defended her daughter. A family member named Wesley Golberg attempted to step in, but Brent slapped him instead. Wesley and Brent got into a physical fight as a result, which ended when a bystander came to Wesley’s aid and took Brent out of the area.
The police opted to take into account all sides of the argument before taking Brent into custody and accusing him of four first-degree violence crimes. His plea to the charges was not guilty.
The internet was incensed at Brent’s actions as word of the incident proliferated online. Many more showed their support for the family by denouncing the attack on Wesley and the girl’s mother as well as the belittling of someone with a disability. It’s evident that a lot of people thought Brent’s actions were wrong and should have resulted in consequences.
This event should serve as a reminder of how important it is to show compassion and kindness to other people. In addition to being upsetting, making fun of and belittling someone due to their differences can also escalate into violent confrontations. Let’s work to make the world a more caring and welcoming place where everyone is respected.
When you first read this story, how did you feel? Tell us in the comments below.
Mom of rare twins with Down syndrome shuts down critics with photo showing how beautiful they are
Twin pregnancies are still quite uncommon, despite a 72% increase in likelihood between 1980 and 2018. Twins are born in about 33 of every 1,000 births.
What are the probabilities of having identical twins? Out of 1,000 births, three to four are identical twins on average. So once more, not very common.
Savannah Combs, age 23, was overjoyed to learn she was expecting twins. She then discovered that they both have Down syndrome, which is also unusual.
Of course, the information was upsetting. Savannah and her husband Justin Ackerman were aware that due of her illness and the state of her children, some people would judge them.
But Savannah finds that to be the same thing that makes them so beautiful.
“It’s very rare what they have, but they’ve been my little gems,” she mentioned.
Savannah, a Middleburg, Florida native, posted videos of her postpartum journey on TikTok with her kids Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, and the videos immediately acquired popularity.
Savannah said in one of her videos that she was advised to abort her children because they wouldn’t survive.
She made the choice to keep them and give them a shot.
”Every [prenatal] appointment they were alive was a blessing to me,” Savannah explained.
Her spouse was gone at boot camp when she found out they both had Down syndrome.
When Savannah was admitted to the hospital, she was 29 weeks along with her pregnancy and gave birth to twin daughters. Kennadi Rue and Mckenli Ackerman, identical twin daughters, were born on May 12, 2021.
The twins had to spend a few weeks in the NICU before going home because they were born two months early.
“They’re called mono di twins, meaning that they had their own sacs, but they shared the same placenta, meaning that they were going to be identical,” she said.
“Mo di twins as it is, it’s like very rare. And then you throw Down syndrome on top of it, it’s like one in 2 million.”
They are just like any other youngster, according to Savannah, despite having an uncommon disease.
“They have feelings. They have a beating heart. They know how to talk. They know how to do things you do. They will get there,” she said.
“Like I said, it may be a step behind but they’re going to do it. I’ve learned these kids are feisty little things and happy little things.”Savannah posts wonderful updates on TikTok as each youngster continues to reach their milestones.
“I’m going to let them know that they’re just like us and they’re going to get there as long as they put their minds to it.”
Nevertheless, some people feel compelled to be critical of Savannah and her family. The young mother was forced to respond to some extremely cruel people on social media as a result.
”I wouldn’t want those babies; if mine came out like that, they would be straight up for adoption,” one person wrote to the mother.
Savannah, though, had the ideal response, which she posted on Facebook.
“I said, good thing they weren’t born to you and were born to me. God knew what he was doing by giving these babies to the right parents who would love them regardless.”
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