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Our journey began in July 2013 when our baby boy arrived six weeks early. From the moment those almond eyes locked with mine, I knew there would be no greater love. Without a word, we told each other it was going to be okay because no matter what life would throw us, there would always be love.

Miles Rae was officially named on the day we received his Down syndrome diagnosis. Little did we know, the “milestones” he would meet in his first year alone would enrich his name. We immediately called my cousin and his wife in Iowa to share the news. Their son Tyler had been born with Down syndrome nearly ten years earlier, and the memory of getting the call about his diagnosis came flooding back.

Miles will be 11 this summer and our support system has grown from close family and friends to connections we’ve made through our local community and social media. We stumbled upon Ruby’s Rainbow a few short weeks after Miles was born. I felt so connected to their mission that for Miles’ third birthday, in lieu of gifts, we raised enough money for a Ruby’s Rainbow scholarship, which we presented to the recipient in 2018. Since then, we have been presented six incredible families with a Ruby’s Rainbow Scholarship in honor of Miles.

Miles is in fourth grade this year. He’s a caring, playful, lovable big brother to Oliver. Miles loves performing arts, playing the drums, baking with his dad and reading. In the summertime he attends a full-day inclusive camp where he’s learned to swim independently and on weekends he enjoys his Challenger League baseball team, TopSoccer and a hip hop dance class at the local dance school. Miles continuously teaches us about the meaning of life, love, determination and patience.

We are so grateful for Ruby and the vision that Liz had in creating Ruby’s Rainbow. Organizations like Ruby’s Rainbow exemplify why inclusion and belonging enrich all our lives.