Dad’s Twitter Thread About His Daughter With Down Syndrome Has Inspired Thousands

When Jason Kneen and Hannah Barnett learned that their unborn daughter had Down syndrome, they weren’t scared. They just didn’t know much about the condition or what to expect. But they knew one thing: Her diagnosis was NOT a burden.

Her name is Rosie, and she has made such a difference in her parent’s lives—and everyone who meets her.

“She’s no different. She and people with Down syndrome have a different outlook on life. She just completely changes your perception of life,” Jason says.

But people everywhere just wanted to give Jason and Hannah advice. And of course they want to do right by their daughter, but it was starting to get a little strenuous.

“Everyone was telling me she can’t do this, she can’t do that,” said Barnett. “It’s hard to hear, but the baby is here, so you just get on with it. That’s what we’re here for — to help her achieve everything she can, and reach her potential.”

To deal with some of the daily stress one day, Jason decided to post a series of Rosie photos on his Twitter feed. They were from different moments over the years, sharing a number of photos of his daughter doing everything regular kids do, and his feelings on what it’s like to raise a child with Down syndrome. And it was ever so touching.

Recently, one post went viral after hitting a lot of people’s hearts: “My child has Down’s Syndrome, what should I expect?” This. 100% this,” he posted with a photo of Rosie giving off one big smile as she plays outside.

People from all over flocked to the thread to tell Jason how lovely the series was, and even shared photos of their own little ones with Down syndrome.

“This made me cry. You must be over the moon with pride and love!” someone wrote.

“Such joy in her beautiful face. You are a lucky man to have her in your life,” another said.

“This made me smile all over the place,” someone else posted. “I needed this today. It brought sunshine on a cloudy rainy day. You have a lovely family.”

Jason admits that even though they didn’t know what to expect at first, and that she learns slower than other kids her age, they couldn’t love their daughter more. “She has developed slower than the others, but she is developing and she is growing and she is clever, and she knows more sign language than I do,” he said. “So for me, there’s nothing wrong with her — she’s brilliant, she’s perfect,” he says.

One in 1,000 babies are born with Down syndrome worldwide, according to the United Nations, with about 6,000 new cases appearing in the US annually, says the National Down Syndrome Society.

The diagnosis causes a distinct facial appearance, intellectual disability and developmental delay, but what people don’t see is what happens behind all that—just a regular kid who wants to do regular kid things.

We’re glad Jason has brought more awareness to the condition by sharing these adorable photos of Rosie. Visit his Twitter to see the entire series he posted.

How sweet is this photo? Do you know anyone with Down syndrome?