She had planned to give birth at home, but complications led to an emergency induction. Hours later, a doctor raised concerns that hadn’t come up during pregnancy. In the years since, she’s used her platform to show what most people never get to see.
She was already established in modeling and television when she became a mother for the first time. Soon after her son was born, doctors raised concerns about his development. This made her worry about what his future might hold and how the world would receive him.
Rather than step back, she chose to speak up. By sharing his story publicly, she challenged outdated ideas and made room for new ones. This is how her son went from a quiet beginning to becoming a face for major brands, changing how many perceive disability.
During her pregnancy, she had planned to deliver at home in a birthing tub. But in the final weeks, her midwife noticed that the baby’s heartbeat had begun to drop. After follow-up visits with specialists, she was told to go to the hospital immediately.
She wasn’t frihtened—only excited that she was about to meet her baby. Labor was induced, and her son was born in a hospital. Micah arrived strong and crying. There had been no indicators during pregnancy or ultrasounds that suggested anything was unusual.
But within hours of his birth, the on-call hospital pediatrician noted two features—almond-shaped eyes and a slightly folded ear—and suggested he might have Down syndrome. The doctor recommended genetic testing, but said Micah was too small at the time to draw the five vials of blood required.
For the first three months, the model and her husband lived as though Micah were a typical baby. Then the test was done, and a month later, they received the diagnosis: Trisomy 21.
Once the diagnosis was confirmed, the emotional impact was immediate. At that moment, a stream of questions came to her mind: Would he have friends? Could he ride motorcycles with his dad, as they had once imagined? Would he ever be able to speak? Would he feel valued?
Micah’s early health issues added new responsibilities. He was treated for jaundice in the NICU and had severe reflux that caused him to choke and turn blue. His parents learned to keep him upright after feedings to manage it. He was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and began taking medication daily to regulate it.
