Where Hope Grows

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Godspeed Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #wherehopegrowsmovie http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

I’m the oldest of four. I have two sisters and a brother. My youngest sister Meg was born when I was eight years old. My parents didn’t know until she was born that she had Down Syndrome. I vaguely remember them telling us she had Down Syndrome and at the age of eight that didn’t really matter to me.

When Meg was six months old she had to undergo open heart surgery to repair a hole in her heart. Of course, I didn’t realize how serious that was, but looking back I can’t imagine what my parents went through having their baby in surgery. Meg recovered well from her surgery and now she loves to reference her heart surgery whenever it’s applicable, but even when it’s not. If you get on to her for doing something wrong she will sadly reply “my heart.” It’s her “go-to” to try and get out of trouble.

In college, I had to do a speech to educate people about something. I chose to educate my class about down syndrome. If you have not spent a significant amount of time around someone with down syndrome then you may not understand them. I loved the line in “Where Hope Grows” when Calvin said “they’re just like us.” It’s so true and something people don’t realize. Just because they have an extra chromosome, doesn’t mean they don’t feel what we feel.

One of our favorite things, is how fixated Meg gets on something. She has more movies than most people I know, including me. In 2011 when my sister Natalie got married, Meg decided there should be a huge party for her. Her graduation was three years away in 2014 so she began telling everyone in three years it would be her party. At my wedding in 2012 she had my dad announce that there was just two years until she graduated. We finally had her party last May and it was all she dreamed of, complete with her being carried around the room and a surprise appearance by two of my brother’s friends from the high school basketball team. You would have thought these boys were One Direction by the reaction of Meg and her friends.

I loved being able to pre-screen the movie “Where Hope Grows” with my sister Natalie this past weekend. Because we both grew up with my sister, we were able to relate well to the movie. The joy that the main character Produce, who has down syndrome, displays is a joy we see in Meg everyday. I won’t spoil the movie for you but it’s heartwarming movie that that is full of hope and inspiration.

If you ever have the opportunity to spend some time around someone with down syndrome, then you should take it! The love they show, the joy for the little things in life, and the kindness they have for everyone is unmatched. I hope you’ll check out this great movie which will be in theaters May 15th. Whether you know someone with down syndrome, or have never had the pleasure of meeting someone, you will enjoy this movie and begin to understand why people like Produce and Meg make you aspire to be a better person.