Earlier this week I wrote a blog called “Today Show Miss: Now You Know the Rest of the Story.” My readers really liked it, and I had an overwhelming response including the piece being picked up by The Mighty (thank you Ellen Stumbo) and Yahoo (don’t read the comments there!) I continue to hope that the Today Show or another network will respond with the rest of the story which is simply I would like them to share educational resources, research and hope with expectant families.

In all of this, many have said they would hate for their loved one with Down syndrome to have heard this. Well, my loved one with Down syndrome, Rachel, did watch the piece. She was eating breakfast, and I was in a different room. As the story unfolded, I listened to see if she talked to herself about it. She did not. So, yesterday she retweeted one of my tweets about it. I took the opportunity to ask her if she would tell me what she thought and if I could include in in a blog today. She said, “Yes, mama.” I wish everyone could hear her sweet voice.

Me: “Rachel, do you remember the story about Shawn Johnson the gymnast?”

Rachel: “Maybe.”

So I reminded her of the story and she said that she did remember. I said what did you think about it? I reminded her that they had a test and found out their baby didn’t have Down syndrome, and they were happy. Does it make you sad that they were happy their baby didn’t have Down syndrome?

She said, “Well, I was a baby once and then I got Down syndrome. I am not a baby anymore though.”

Then, she went on to say, “Remember when I told Savanna I didn’t like having Down syndrome?”

I responded yes. Savanna was in the Just Like You Down Syndrome (2012) video with Rachel. They’ve been friends since fifth grade. The conversation she referred to happened just before 10th grade, and I was driving the girls home from some activity. I remember it vividly.

Rachel then I said, “I told Savanna I was nervous about having friends at school.”

Savanna responded with, “Rachel, you have more friends than anyone I know.”

Rachel’s response, ” People don’t understand what I say. I wish I didn’t have Down syndrome because then people would understand me better.”

Savanna responded and said, “Rachel, people understand you just fine.”

Rachel recounted this story as her response to the Shawn Johnson story. When she finished recounting the story, I said, “Do you still feel like that?”

Her response, “I love my life. We are all different. I love my life. The best thing about my life is my friends. And you know I AM a college girl?”

Okay. That was my hint that is time to be done with this interrogation.

I will let you all analyze our conversation for yourselves. I do want to share one of my favorite “Just Like You” and inclusion experiences.

Rachel and Savanna were invited to many viewings of “Just Like You – Down Syndrome.” Sometimes they were invited to speak. Soon after the release, they were invited to a neighboring high school’s disability awareness day. The video was shown and the first question from the audience was “What was the hardest part of doing this?” Rachel, big smile intact, responded that it was hard for her to remember her lines.

Her typical friend Savanna looked at Rachel and looked at the audience and said, “This is hard for me. I’m not like Rachel. I don’t like getting up in front of people and talking.”

Now, my friends, you have the rest of the story.