Born January 9, 2014, Vista, CA. Fred's son.
Down syndrome. Twelve years old as of 2026. High-functioning, athletic, deeply social when comfortable. Loves camping, Panda Express, KPOP Demon Hunters, Minecraft, Legos, and Papa.
He would go camping every weekend if you let him. He passed the Scout swim test well. He loves ice hockey, soccer, biking, horses. He’s been learning to follow a trail with his Scout troop and mostly would rather have his dad along for company, which is fair.
He’s turning into a teenager. The sarcastic “Papa!” when I ask silly questions is new and wonderful. He speaks more clearly than he used to, though still hard to understand sometimes. He loves babies and small children. He still sleeps happily on a floor pad and still has Stick Fluffy.
Every day I ask him: what did you do at school, what sports did you play, what was for lunch, who dropped you off, who picked you up. He usually answers “I don’t know.” We still do it. I read to him every night, build Legos, talk about our day and our dreams. He’s the center of gravity of this particular chapter of my life, and I don’t use that phrase loosely.
His favorite music is KPOP Demon Hunters on endless repeat. I have managed to sneak in “No Sleep Till Brooklyn,” “Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps,” and the Zamboni song. He tolerates this.