Forget resolutions. Let’s
talk inspirations. That’s the
focus of our New Year –
celebrating the inspirational
families and children
affected by special needs…
right here in our Kansas
City community. There are
so many – we hear from
you every day on Facebook
and through emails, events
we attend and more – but
here, on these few pages, we
only had room for three of
your stories. We hope these
families – and their adorable,
miraculous children –
inspire you as much as they
have us. Happy New Year!

By Melina Bland

The Heigele Family
Biggie is one poopy Picasso, and Pudge has a tendency to munch on
her toes when she has exhausted her fingers. No, these aren’t the names of
children’s book characters, though the Heigele’s life could very well have their
own “The Adventures of Biggie and Pudge” series.

And the exhausted protagonists in this series would star Justin and Courtney
Heigele, real life parents of two adopted children with Down syndrome,
LC (Pudge), who is three, and Jace (Biggie), age two.

Courtney, a former elementary teacher, worked with children with Down
syndrome for many years, many of whom were underprivileged and/or in
adoptive services. Her great uncle also lived with Down syndrome.

“I always knew I wanted to have a child with Down syndrome,” says
Courtney. “I wanted to give the undivided attention that so many of the
children I worked with didn’t have.”

Three years ago, Courtney and her husband Justin welcomed a girl, LC, to
their family.

That next year, the Heigeles were asked to adopt another child with Down
syndrome.

As if their life wasn’t crazy enough!

So Jace, LC’s new partner in crime, joined the family.

And life for Courtney and Justin has been a blessing – and complete chaos
– ever since. They document this life quite hilariously on their blog, Pudge &
Biggie, at pudgeandzippy.blogspot.com.

For example, a typical day for Courtney is writing about how Biggie
hates to eat and that his 21 favorite snacks include velcro, aluminum foil and
sponges, to name a few. Or posting about finding underpants that fit Pudge,
only to reveal they came from Build-A-Bear.

“I always knew Justin and I could do this because of our humor,” says
Courtney. “It gets us through a lot.”

The Heigeles seem like superhero parents, who show no fear, right? Not
quite.

“The most frightening thing in the world to me,” says Courtney, “is hearing
laughter in a room that I’m not in. It means they are up to something
– they are always up to something!”

When asked what life would be like if they hadn’t decided to adopt a
second child, Courtney pauses and says, “Who would LC blame?”

In truth, the Heigeles have gifted their children with a lifelong best friend.
As toddlers, they are partners in crime (teaming up to flush all of their parent’s
worldly goods down the toilet), but as they grow into adults, LC and
Jace will always have a partner in life.

But there are still a few things Courtney hopes to teach them before they
are grown.

“LC’s obsession with taking her clothes off in public,” says Courtney. “I’m
hoping she doesn’t become the first exotic dancer with Down syndrome!”

The Zeller Family
Like many parents, Craig and Carolyn Zeller didn’t know much about the
special needs community. They had two healthy children – a daughter, Emi,
and a son Charlie.

But an unplanned third pregnancy welcomed Nate to their world, and he
has since changed everything they knew – or didn’t know.

It began when Carolyn took Nate to his four-month check up. She had no
idea she wouldn’t bring him home for nearly 30 days.

Nate was diagnosed with severe bacterial meningitis, and the Zellers were
told by doctors, “If he survives, he will be moderately to severely mentally
handicapped.”

After his diagnosis, Craig and Carolyn had a difficult time coming to
terms with what this would mean for all of them.

Craig, a local fireman, is used to having the resources to help people.

“Daddy is the protector and Mommy fixes things, that’s what we always
said,” says Carolyn. “It was extremely difficult for us, especially for Craig, for
him to not be able to protect him from this and for me to not be able to make
him feel better.”

But life for the Zeller family has gotten better, because of Nate.
Emi, now nine and Charlie, seven, all share a strong bond with Nate. Emi
serves as his helper, getting him dressed, taking him to “kid church.” Charlie,
like his dad, is his protector. Always by his side. Guarding him if their family
dogs get too rowdy around him.

Craig and Carolyn’s roles as parents have also changed. Never did they imagine their four-year-old would still be as dependent on them as a newborn.

“Our family has just become so much closer,” adds Carolyn. “Everything
we do; we do together. Nate goes everywhere with us.”

And one of the biggest blessing they’ve received as Nate’s parents is the
opportunity to teach people about children with special needs.

“The special needs world was so scary to us before Nate came along,”
says Carolyn. “We didn’t know anything about it. Now, he serves as our
mascot for special needs, allowing us to teach other people about him and
other children like him.”

The Davis Family
Sydney Davis, age nine, points to a child inside McDonald’s. Her mom,
Jessica, embarrassed her daughter is pointing to a child with special needs,
expects her to yell, “Look at that kid! What’s wrong with him?”
But, instead, Sydney says, “I think he needs help with the straws. Do
you think I can go help him?”
“Sure,” says Jessica, surprised by her daughter’s question and disappointed
in herself for expecting worse.

Sydney hasn’t always been so helpful or aware of children with special
needs. Like most young children, she was curious and a little unsure of kids
who looked different than her.

But two years ago, the Davis family’s life changed forever, when Sydney’s
new baby brother Alex was born.

The Davis family spent 21 days at Children’s Mercy Hospital as Alex underwent
days and days of tests only to be delivered worse news each time.

Finally, he was diagnosed with Mowat Wilson syndrome, which includes a
number of health defects such as Hirschsprung’s disease, mental retardation,
seizure disorder, delayed growth and motor development, congenital
heart disease and more. All of which Alex has.

The last two years have been long, but the family has been enjoying
every small milestone of Alex’s life together.

“Every poop he makes, we celebrate,” laughs Jessica. “It’s the little things
we thrive on.”

The Davises consider themselves blessed and lucky to have Alex in their
lives.

“He teaches us more than we could have imagined,” says Jessica.
Including, what it means to be compassionate – a difficult thing to learn at a
young age.

This past year, Sydney attended a birthday party for a boy in her class – a
boy with special needs. She regularly plays with another girl at recess, who also
has special needs.

Now, it’s not strange for Sydney to regularly help her classmates, and strangers,
who have disabilities.

“Hopefully, she’ll continue, and teach her friends to continue, to treat every
person with special needs as they would treat Alex,” says Jessica. “That would
be my dream for her.”