Freddie is shy, but very loving once he gets to know you. He is especially inquisitive and thoughtful. Freddie appreciates the sounds of nature and the feeling of the wind on his face. He loves spending time outside, swinging, watching YouTube, camping, music, and dancing. He even used to dance to music down the halls of the hospital on the way to a procedure.
Having diagnoses of Down syndrome, autism, ADHD, cancer, and a few other conditions has changed the way Freddie and his family navigate the world. Freddie is three years in remission from leukemia. He has had an incredibly difficult journey, but he continues to keep a positive attitude. Through this experience, he has learned patience and that sometimes we have to do things in life, like cancer treatment, even when we do not want to. Freddie is also considered nonverbal, and recently he said “Mama” to get his mom’s attention, which was a very special moment for her.
Another big moment was Freddie taking medication by mouth. He had to have a G-tube for cancer treatment, and he developed an oral aversion that led to him barely eating anything by mouth. Just a few months ago, he was able to take all of his medication orally, which was extremely exciting for his family.
Freddie’s mom, Joanne, hopes that one day he will feel comfortable eating again, that he makes some friends, and that the world becomes kinder. Most of all, she wants people to know that Freddie is a fighter, and that getting to know him will change how you see the world for the better.