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 Avery
Graf Groneberg, Polson, MT
Born 6/8/03
Avery is our second son, a fraternal twin, and was born
with his brother seven weeks early. Each baby weighed
just over four pounds and they spent a total of eight
weeks in the NICU at Community Medical Center in Missoula.
Five days after he was born, Avery was diagnosed with
Down syndrome. These are the numbers of our story, but
they don't give you the whole picture.
 Like
most parents, my husband Tom and I want the best for
our children. When we heard Avery's diagnosis, we didn't
know much about Down syndrome. To us, it seemed like
a whole bunch of complications and new things to worry
about. Now that Avery is almost three, what I know is
this: he is the last of my kids to get sick; he is my
best eater (especially if it's oatmeal); he loves animals,
books and cuddling; like his brothers, he is the light
of our lives.
His hair is the color of wheat; his eyes are blue like
a river. At our house, people take their shoes off and
leave them in a line by the door. When no one is looking,
Avery tucks things into the empty shoes, like parting
gifts—a toy car, a tiny horse, a pilfered spoon.
Despite the stubbed toes, the lost spoons, the startled
guests, it’s hard for me to be mad at him. He
is the child that I wanted, that I did not know I
wanted. He is my son.
 We
are a homeschooling family with three boys (Carter,
7, and Avery and Bennett, 2 1/2) and we live at the
very end of a twisty gravel road on a peninsula that
juts out into Flathead Lake. Avery has had "helpers"
in his life since he was six months old, including a
Family Support Specialist from the Child Development
Center in Kalispell, a speech therapist, and a physical
therapist. These wonderful women give their time and
talents to us, and care for Avery as if they were part
of the family. Having Avery has opened our eyes to many
new ways of living, and of loving, and for that, I am
extremely grateful. Most of all, I am thankful for Avery.
Come meet us at the Buddy Walk!
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