Siblings share a special bond that is like no other.
When Lisi Lopez found out she was pregnant for the second time, she was over the moon with excitement. Everything was going smoothly until her 12-week ultrasound when doctors discovered a problem.
Lisi had assumed the ultrasound was a routine checkup, but when they searched for genetic disorders, they told her the baby might have Down syndrome. She waited for two long weeks to receive a formal diagnosis. During that time, she constantly worried about the “what ifs.”
“The night after the diagnosis I had so many concerns,” the mom wrote. “The main concerns were whether I would be the mother that my two children deserve. Whether Leo’s older sister would have to grow up faster than most kids because of this diagnosis. Whether I would push Leo hard enough to reach his maximum potential.”
Her husband kept reminding her that people with Down syndrome can lead wonderful, fulfilling lives, which helped Lisi come to terms with their new reality. When Leo was born, she fell instantly in love with his sweet face and knew she was the perfect person to be his mom!
The little boy has grown up to be a happy, healthy, and outgoing toddler. His large extended family adores him and spoils him with love and affection, and he is exceeding expectations every single day.
“Leo is a ham and he knows it,” Lisi said. “It amazes me how he acts just like any other typical 3-year-old, causing mayhem wherever he goes, yet he knows the right times to stop his mischief and give those around him his sweet loving hugs.”
About a year ago, the Lopez family welcomed a third son into their hearts. As expected, Leo stepped up to be the best big brother ever!
Lisi often shares pictures and videos of her boys on her blog and Instagram. One day, she uploaded a short video of Leo feeding his infant brother a bottle, and it’s just too sweet for words.
As he holds his brother, Leo gently wipes away the milk from his chin with a soft cloth, carefully making sure the baby is OK. You can see the genuine adoration he has for his family in every frame.
After the video went viral, the mom’s reaction told us everything we needed to know about inclusion and acceptance: “What I love most is the caption. It just says ‘boy’ and ‘baby brother.'”
We love that, too! Leo is so much more than a diagnosis! Thank you, Lopez family, for sharing your beautiful story and children with the world.
Watch Leo give his baby brother a bottle in the video below, and don’t forget to share.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.