Photo: Crystal Slaughter Photography
"Do you remember all the things that they said you would never do?"
On her wedding day, Paul Daugherty writes a beautiful letter to his daughter Jillian, who was born with Down syndrome.
'Dear Jillian,
It's the afternoon of your wedding, June 27, 2015. In two hours, you'll be treading the path of your life, a path you'd better remember in the face of everything you've come to experience this day will. I do not know what the chances are for a Downsome woman to marry the love of her life. All I know is that you've surpassed them all.
You're up now, finishing with your mother and bridesmaids. Your hair is perfectly styled over your slender neck. Your glittering stone dress - 'your bling, ' as you call it - captures every ray of afternoon sun shining through the window. Your make-up - this red lipstick - emphasizes your beauty, which has increased since the day you were born, even more. Your smile is beautiful and everlasting. '
With these very moving words, Paul Daugherty opens the letter to his daughter Jillian, whom he writes to her on her wedding day. For Jillian and her family, the day she marries Ryan, the love of her life, is something very special. It was not always clear if this event would happen. Because Jilllian, who was born with Down syndrome, has not always had it easy in her life. This also speaks of Paul in his wedding letter.
'I want to tell you everything and nothing at the same time. When you were born and even years later, I was not worried about how big your academic success would be. Your mother and I would make that possible for you. We would have used the law like a club if we had had to. We could get teachers to teach you and we knew you would earn the respect of people your age.
But we could not make other kids like you. To accept you, to befriend you and to stand next to you in the social arena. We thought: What is the life of a child when it is not staying with friends and not attending birthday parties?
At the time, I was worried about you. I cried inwardly when you came down to us one night when you were 12 and said, 'I have no friends.'
Jillian has been with her husband Ryan for ten years.
We all wish the same for our children. Health, contentment and the ability to participate and enjoy the world are not just for typical children. To be able to aspire to these things is the birthright of every child. But I was worried about you, Jillian.
I should not have done that. You are a natural, when it comes to meeting new people. In your elementary school, they called you 'The Mayor' because you just got along well with everyone. You danced in the dance team of your high school. You've been at the university for four years and have made a lasting impression on everyone you've met.
Do you remember all the things that they said you would never do, Jills? You should not be able to do scooters or sports. You would not go to university. You certainly would not marry. Now look at you. '
For Paul Daugherty his daughter is unique, a very special person. The love he feels for her is in each of these lines of him. Every daughter can be lucky to have such a father.
Paul's complete letter to his daughter has been published on The Mighty's site. In his book 'An Uncomplicated Life', Paul also talks about how Jillian grew up.
