Doctors Told Her That She Wouldn’t Survive Beyond 3 Years, Lady With Down Syndrome Shares Touching Story, Now A Model

Story shared by Humans of Bombay

“When I was born, I wasn’t breathing and had to be put on life support. A few days later, I contracted jaundice — eventually my parents were told that I had two holes in my heart and I had Down Syndrome.
The doctors told my parents that I wouldn’t survive beyond 3 years. But they were hopeful and wanted to fight for my life.
They took me to every doctor they could find but nothing worked — once a doctor said, ‘Nothing can be done, just pray that she passes away soon.’
At the age of 3, I got an open heart surgery, with a survival rate of 40%.
But I made it through and that day, I got a new life…However, even though my health was getting better, life wasn’t any easier.

My parents would get stares and pity comments when they’d walk with me on the street. I didn’t have any friends and was always alone.

Eventually my dad got a job in Dubai and we moved there. But no school there accepted me. One school agreed, but they said that they wouldn’t take ‘any responsibility’ for me and wouldn’t give me any extra help.
So eventually, I had to be admitted in a special needs school.
When I grew older, it didn’t take time for me to understand that I was ‘different’. That the world may not be as accepting of me. And at my school, everyone of us was like that. So we learnt how to be independent and prepare for the real world.

Of course my future was uncertain. But this one time, when I was visiting a cousin in India — I stumbled upon her modelling portfolio. She was owning herself and looked so stunning!
That was the first time I felt such a strong desire to do something. I didn’t know how people would react, ‘A girl with Down Syndrome wanting to be a model’ is not something you hear often. But I had nothing to lose.

So I told my mom, and she was so encouraging! She shared my details with agencies and soon, one of Dubai’s top magazines did a photoshoot & article on me!

The photographer was so impressed, he said, ‘She was born for this!’ I started getting many opportunities after that! But some time back, we had to move to India — and people here haven’t been as accepting.

I get called for ramp walks where ‘inclusivity’ is being promoted, but brands are still not comfortable having a Down Syndrome model on board.

I keep trying to send my portfolio’s, going for auditions but my horizons seem very bleak. I feel like I’m fighting to do something, that any other ‘normal’ person my age wouldn’t have to fight for. My dreams are just like any other, I want to become something, be independent, get married, have kids, travel the world — just all of it. But I don’t know how much of it is possible. Until then, all I can do is keep trying to push the boundaries to help ‘extra-special’ people like me live their life, without any limits.”

Source:Humans of Bombay|LinkedIn

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com