4-Year-Old Boy with Down Syndrome Helps Take Care of His 3 Disabled Brothers, Showing His Unbreakable Spirit
Love and kindness transcend language and words — that's what this young child with Down syndrome proves every day as he cares for his three "differently-abled" siblings.
Sometimes life can be pretty unfair, and all humans can do is play the cards life deals us. However, now and then, we get to hear stories of people surpassing their own limitations just to help others. This melts hearts and makes it easier to believe that there is still good in the hearts of men.
This is the life story of a 4-year-old adopted boy who did not let his disorder stop him from caring for his three differently-abled brothers. His name was Simon Clark, and he taught his parents and everyone else the true meaning of love.
[Left] Simon Clark feeding his brother; [Right] Simon Clark and his three brothers playing. | Source: facebook.com/StorytrenderOfficial
THE COUPLE NEVER WANTED BIOLOGICAL KIDS
Jeremy and Nicole adopted Simon Clark. They had decided early on in their relationship that they would never conceive kids naturally.
Simon was adopted from Bulgaria in 2018 by the Utah couple who had decided solely on adoption as the mode of expanding their family. Before they adopted Simon, they were already proud parents of three different special needs kids: Alex, Jon, and David.
Like Simon, all three kids were adopted from Bulgaria. However, only one of the three has Down syndrome like him, and that's Alex. On the other hand, Jon and David both have cerebral palsy.
Simon Clark doing the dishes. | Source: facebook.com/StorytrenderOfficial
A HACK THAT WORKS
It is no surprise that raising four kids with special needs takes a lot of work, and both parents have to always be on their toes to make sure their kids are comfortable.
Jeremy, a P.E. teacher, can only do so much, but thankfully, his wife decided to retire from her job as a nurse to become a full stay-at-home mom so the kids would always have someone around.
Unlike kids without disabilities, differently-abled kids have to be babies for longer, and there will always be something to do, whether it's just changing diapers or feeding them, or making sure they have all they need.
Simon Clark and one of his brothers playing. | Source: facebook.com/StorytrenderOfficial
No human is a machine, and sometimes the couple gets overwhelmed by the activities involving the kids. Jeremy revealed how he timed the activities involved in putting the kids to bed, including brushing their teeth. The entire process took around 30 minutes.
Fortunately, the family has Nicole, who spends the bulk of her time with the kids while her husband maintains his job. More importantly, the couple has found a hack; according to Jeremy:
"The key is finding joy throughout each of those activities."
Simon Clark giving his brother a goodnight kiss. | Source: facebook.com/StorytrenderOfficial
SIMON PITCHES IN A LOT
Things sometimes got tight before Simon's arrival, but after he came, the boy quickly grew close to his brothers and started caring for them like he had seen his parents do.
A video that captured him running around doing different things was shared when the news started to circulate, warming many hearts. In it, Simon fed his brothers, cleaned up after them, and still managed to find time to play with them.
According to his adoptive parents, he was able to feed his brothers with spoons and feeding syringes, do the dishes, and keep them occupied playing in the living room or garden while they caught their breaths.
Simon Clark and his brothers, Alex, Jon, and David in a group photo. | Source: facebook.com/StorytrenderOfficial
The boy would do this throughout the day, and when the time came for them to go to bed, he never forgot to give all of them a good night kiss.
Jeremy and Nicole, who have extensive experience caring for special needs kids, have certified that Simon does the right things and have even admitted that he knows his way around digital devices.
The couple hopes that he will one day speak English as he can already say "mom" and "dad" but not much else. However, he is reportedly fluent in Bulgarian, and among the four, he is the one who communicates the most with words.
Jeremy and his wife have admitted that, although it can be strenuous to care for differently-abled kids like Simon and his brothers, the reward is just as great. The proud father said:
"They are always excited and full of joy. They get really happy over simple things that other kids could sometimes take for granted."
Simon has been able to help his parents, and his selfless actions were able to communicate exactly how much he loves his new family even if he can't say it in English yet. His life is clear proof that love can be shown through actions and not just words.