Our Stories

2023 TVDSA Walk For Down Syndrome

Posted by on Apr 28, 2023 in Our Stories, Uncategorized | 0 comments

REGISTER TODAY The TVDSA Walk for Down Syndrome is a great opportunity for those of us who love someone with Down syndrome to share our feelings with everyone we know! Yes, the walk is the biggest fundraiser of the year for TVDSA, but it’s also a vehicle for creating community awareness.  REGISTER TODAY Invite everyone you know! This year the Walk will be at Indian Creek Plaza in Caldwell ID, on Saturday, September 23th 2023. Place Indian Creek Plaza120 S Kimball AvenueCaldwell, ID US 83605 Description Join us for the 21st Annual TVDSA Step Up for Down...

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2023 Albertsons Boise Open

Posted by on Apr 4, 2023 in Our Stories, Uncategorized | 0 comments

TVDSA Golf Fans! - TICKETS GOING FAST! TVDSA is excited to announce the return of the 34th Annual Albertsons Boise Open this August 24–27, at Hillcrest Country Club! Thanks to Albertsons, 100% of all ticket sales will support local Boise charities! TVDSA is participating again this year with a new, simplified format. Go to TVDSA’s Boise Open site to purchase tickets, and please encourage your friends and family to do the same. We are so thankful to the Albertsons Companies Foundation and Mondelez for their ongoing support to local non-profits through the Boise Open. In 2022 TVDSA...

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Our Stories – Charlotte Rice

Posted by on Sep 2, 2020 in Our Stories | 0 comments

Our daughter, Charlotte, was born early at 27 weeks. We had had an inkling that she might have Down syndrome based on preliminary clues that our doctor had seen but never got any sort of confirmation before I went into labor. When she was born, there were so many other complications that Down syndrome seemed really trivial as far as things we should be concerned about. But as she got healthier, it was something that started worrying me. What did Down syndrome mean? What things would she be able to do? How different was this going to be from what I had been expecting? We received a...

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Our Stories – Charlie and Milo McConnel

Posted by on Sep 1, 2020 in Our Stories | 0 comments

My name is Julie McConnel and my youngest boys, Charlie and Milo, are fraternal twins both with a diagnosis of Down syndrome. We received the news of our double lottery win when I was about 18 weeks pregnant. At the time we had no idea just how lucky we were and we struggled with the uncertainty of a future raising not just one, but two children with an extra chromosome. We were afraid we might not be the best equipped to care for them and even considered finding an adoptive family for them. I’m so thankful that we chose to act in faith rather than fear and decided to parent our two boys,...

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End the R-word

Posted by on Mar 3, 2012 in Our Stories, Uncategorized | 2 comments

We created this video in support of the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, an on-going initiative from Special Olympics and Best Buddies to eradicate the derogatory use of the word “retard(ed)” from everyday use and promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Five siblings of individuals with Down syndrome in Idaho’s Treasure Valley volunteered to help us spread the word that their brother or sister with Down syndrome is not defined by their disability. A big thanks to all those who helped us create this video by...

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Our Stories – Aaden Vranish

Posted by on Jul 31, 2011 in Our Stories | 0 comments

On December 17, 2008 a little angel sent by God was delivered into our arms. He weighed 4lbs 13oz and was 16 inches long. We went through a lot of trials and tribulations to get him here. But it was all worth it. After 4 miscarriages I was pregnant again and VERY scared this would be number 5. I spent a lot of time on my knees praying this little baby would stick. My anxiety was so high I would shake and sweat in the waiting room before seeing my doctor. I worried there wouldn’t be a heartbeat. It was very nerve breaking. I had a hard time sleeping and functioning throughout the day until a...

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