Today, I fell in love.

Love was in the air at the pediatrics clinic today. My little heart went aflutter as soon as I saw his double-diapered, skinny frame sitting on the scale. I can't tell you his name, because that would be illegal on several fronts, but that's not intrinsic to my story.

I have this really deep affection for Down syndrome children. They are the happiest, most loving and unselfish little people, but they'll live a shorter life and be ostracized by ignorant peers just because of their extra 21st chromosome. I think nature sometimes has a funny way of protecting its most vulnerable creatures and Down syndrome patients are not spared from this phenomenon. Within that extra genetic material is definitely a healthy dose of good attitude.

I'm not trying to make a point about accepting those who are different or anything else remotely political with this post. There are just few better huggers than a child or adult with Down's, and I like that.

"As we hope for the best in them, hope is reborn in us." - Eunice Kennedy Shriver