My niece competed in several of the Special Olympics held at Park City, Utah. She never medaled, but it was thrilling for her, and at age 43, still among her favorite life stories to tell. She has Down's Syndrome and was often called a ****** growing up. She learned to deal with it.
We have a standing telephone date - she calls every Tuesday and I really look forward to her calls. She is able to hold her end of a conversation on various topics, has held a few jobs in her life, and is really a pretty amazing person. I feel really fortunate to have her in my family and in my life. I've learned a lot from knowing her, and I'm grateful for that.