Thank you very much Andrew for allowing us to be apart of you, Iron Will and the rest of your family's life. We are better people for it.

An open letter to my son, Iron Will, on the occasion of his sixth birthday Dear Will, Six years ago, you came into this world and immediately, without effort, began making it better. That's just who you are. There are people who, had they known you were coming, would have told us your life was a tragedy in the making. That an extra chromosome was a reason for grief. That the hardest road wasn't worth walking. And they would have been wrong. Completely, embarrassingly, irreversibly wrong. Not because your road has been easy — it hasn't always been. Not because you haven't had to work for things that come effortlessly to other kids. You have. But because the measure of a life isn't the absence of difficulty. It's the presence of love. And Will, you have never, not for one single day, been without it. You were made in the image and likeness of God. Full stop. Not partially. Not conditionally. Not pending review. That truth was written into you before the foundation of the world, and no diagnosis, no cultural narrative, no fleeting opinion posted to the internet has the power to edit it. "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:13–14 That's you, son. Knitted together. On purpose. With intention. By a God who doesn't make mistakes and doesn't deal in accidents. What the world calls a burden, we call a blessing. What the world calls a limitation, we call a lens, because you see things the rest of us miss. You love without suspicion. You forgive without keeping score. You show up with your whole heart, every single time, and somehow you make the people around you want to do the same. I've watched grown men — veterans, warriors — go soft at the edges because of you. That's not weakness. That's the strength of presence. Your mother and I didn't just accept you. We chose you, the way every parent chooses their child, and we would choose you a thousand times over. Your brothers and sister would too. Each of them loves you in their own way, and each of their lives is richer because you are in it. We may not have known it before you were born, but this family was waiting for you to complete it. You are Iron Will. We gave you that nickname the day you were born, and six years later, you've more than earned it. Iron is what's in you. We've watched you do the hard work, log the therapy hours, learn the things people said you couldn't, and do it all with a grin that makes the whole room shift. That's not inspiration. That's character. Your character. So here's what I want you to know on your sixth birthday, son: this world needs you in it. Not despite who you are — because of who you are. The world gets better, more honest, more human, more whole when people like you are present in it. Every voice that has ever suggested otherwise was simply wrong about what makes a life worth living. I will spend whatever days God gives me making sure you know that. Making sure the world knows that. And on days when the world gets loud and confused about your worth — and some days it will — your dad will be right here. Immovable. Happy sixth birthday, Iron Will. I love you more than words have ever been built to convey. — Dad #IronWill #DownSyndromeAdvocacy #TeamIronWill #SayYesToPossibility #Personhood #TheLuckyFew

Friends, Please say yes to possibility! EVERY DOLLAR WILL BE MATCHED: DEADLINE JUNE 30TH Every child with Down syndrome is made in the image and likeness of God — full of purpose and possibility. Yet too many families hear "no" — no resources, no support, no way forward — at the moment they need someone to say "yes." That's why Team Iron Will exists. The Say Yes to Possibility Campaign is our commitment to standing in the gap — so no family walks this journey alone and each child is given every opportunity to fully realize God's design for them. Right now, every gift is matched dollar for dollar — up to $10,000 — through June 30. When you give, you're saying YES! and someone else is saying it with you. If you're in a position to donate, click the link below: teamironwill.app.neoncrm.com… And as always, please pray for the success of our mission! Thank you! #TeamIronWill #DownSyndromeAdvocacy #SayYesToPossibility

Join us on Saturday, August 29 at St. Gianna Fields in Wentzville, MO for the 2026 Team Iron Will Family Fest — a FREE, family-friendly celebration for the Down syndrome community and everyone who stands with them! Click this link to learn more: teamironwill.org/familyfest Expect lawn games, face painting, balloon animals, snow cones, a kids' home run derby, an adaptive equipment swap, raffle, silent auction, and more. And our Wiffle Ball Tournament runs all day with recreational AND competitive divisions for all ages.⚾ Admission is FREE. All proceeds go to support Team Iron Will's mission of championing the value of every person with Down syndrome through providing medical and adaptive equipment, therapy scholarships, and connections with leading medical experts! Come for an hour or stay all day. Can't wait to see you there! 📅 August 29, 2026 | 9 AM (tournament) / 11 AM (fest) 📍 450 East Hwy N, Wentzville, MO 🔗 Register here: teamironwill.app.neoncrm.com… #TeamIronWill #downsyndrome #downsyndromeadvocacy

By any chance, do you use your hands a lot when you speak, Andrew? I love Iron Will's stories.

Some authentic “behind-the-scenes with Iron Will” footage for y’all! IRL… So I was telling stories to the posterity after chow. Iron Will listened intently the entire time. When I was finished, he immediately began regaling us with his own stories - many of which bore remarkable similarities to mine (I totally took it as a compliment). About 10 minutes in, I had one of my other sons record the wee little man. Here is about 4 minutes of what turned out to be an extraordinary and wonderful 25 minute session. I hope you appreciate his skill at telling stories, his passion and mannerisms, and how hard he is working at pronunciation as much as we do! #TeamIronWill #IronWill #DownSyndromeAdvocacy #DayYesToPossibility