Published on Momaha via Omaha.com earlier this week:

Earlier this month, I stood next to my son, Marcus, while he spoke to a room of more than 1,200 spectators. It was unbelievable to witness.

The event was the star studded “Be Beautiful, Be Yourself” fashion show, which took place Nov. 11 in Denver. The Global Down Syndrome Foundation hosts this event each year to raise money to continue research and improve medical care for people with Down syndrome. Marcus was named the 2017 “Be Beautiful, Be Yourself” Ambassador.

As the parent of an adult with Down syndrome, I have been a gold star worrier over the years. The first and hardest time in my parenting journey was when Marcus had heart surgery as a baby. Then, while still a child, he suffered often from pneumonia and other respiratory infections. Those were scary every time.

Now, he’s grown into a predominately healthy adult.