My Little Inspiration Brandi Kathleen Schroeder

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K… As I enter the house, I hear the sweet melody of this song being sung in the playroom by a vivacious voice that can do nothing but bring a smile to my face. I tiptoe as quietly as I possibly can towards the entrance of the room and peek around the frame. Sitting on the floor is the most precious child I have ever laid my eyes on. Although his back is toward me, he somehow senses a visitor in the room and turns around to look at me with those beautifully almond-shaped eyes that define him. I call out, “Hi Booger Bear! What are you doing?!” He smiles and stumbles to his feet before saying, “Hi Katie,” in his stilted speech. I envelop him in a hug and wonder how I got so lucky as to have him in my life. This little boy is John Archer Fulenwider, and he has been blessed with God’s eternal innocence called Down’s Syndrome. He has changed my life in more ways than ever could be imagined and I will forever hold him near and dear to my heart.

I began babysitting Archer when he was just two years old. Having never dealt with a special-needs child before, I was more than a little scared of this first venture and that radiated unsure expectations. Questions like: what if he did not like me? Was there a...