When Heath White of Waskom, Texas learned he and his wife were expecting a child with Down Syndrome, his world fell apart. "I was just terrified on how it reflected on me."
Then, after Paisley was born, Heath did an about face.
"I felt bad about that, about how I felt for nine months, not enjoying ... looking forward to her really getting here that much, and so I just wanted to let everybody know that I was proud of her," White said.
So, when Heath ran the Little Rock Marathon, his daughter Paisley was with him for the entire 26.2 miles. White pushed Paisley in a running stroller. She was entered in the race as a physically challenged athlete. Her father proudly wore a t-shirt that read, "Paisley's Dad". "I didn't slow down because I had an angel in front of me, pulling me along the whole way.
Not only has Heath accepted Paisley the way she is, he's doing what he can to raise awareness of Down Syndrome and giving hope to other parents facing the same feelings. "In the beginning, you think about everything, how your whole life's going to change...you know, this baby's going to be with us forever, how's it going to affect retirement. It's just one day at a time."
Heath's main focus now is to not put limits on what Paisley can do. "She's the best baby you could ask for."
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