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Molly's story

Meet Molly!

Six years ago, my daughter Molly Christina was born to two physicians who were completely unaware that she had trisomy 21 until we saw her beautiful face. The moment they put Molly in my arms I looked up at my husband with an apprehensive glance. He looked back and knowingly nodded his head, but neither of us said anything. The room was very quiet, not at all like the births of my previous three children. The nurses and doctor left the room quickly. As soon as they left, I said to Bryan, “She has Down syndrome.” He said, “I know.” Seconds later, our doctor came back into the room and with a very serious tone said, “So, Molly seems to be extremely healthy and very beautiful, but we have noticed some facial features which . . . you already know.” We nodded. She said, “We’re just going to do some tests to confirm.”

Our doc was right. She was perfectly healthy, minus a failed hearing test that she subsequently passed a few days later, and she was absolutely beautiful.

Molly was instantly my easiest newborn. She ate well. She slept well, at least comparatively. She was so happy, but I was a nervous wreck. What if I wasn’t enough? What if I messed up? The next few days were very difficult. How do we tell everyone? My family and most of my friends were amazingly supportive and loving. But a few of my friends sent condolence text messages.

The next month was a blur. As a highly competitive physician and homeschooler, I had put my three other children on my school “treadmill” for years. I actually called it that. We homeschooled year-round. Everyone was ahead of grade level. Everyone played an instrument and was on at least one sports team. Plus, they had active social and church lives. I made sure of it.

Were we all exhausted? Well, yes, but the treadmill kept moving. How would Molly fit on my treadmill? Would she be able to speak, much less read? Could she play sports? Surely she wouldn’t be able to play the piano? Would she have friends?

I was so overwhelmed. I immediately called my friend, a speech therapist who specializes in children with Down syndrome, and while she probably thought I was crazy, she reassured me that Molly would be able to do all of those things. It took about a month, but I finally realized that Molly was going to be fine. She was going to be great.

But amazingly, it isn’t what I learned about Molly that was the biggest gift. It was what Molly taught me. It wasn’t that the treadmill wouldn’t work for Molly. It was that the treadmill wasn’t working for anybody. So, we all got off the treadmill.

I don’t like saying Molly has “special needs” because all of my kids have special needs. They are all beautiful creations made in God’s image. They are all inherently valuable. They will all have purposeful lives because He has given them a purpose. To me, championing possibility for our children means reminding them daily that God has put them here right now just as they are for a reason, and He put their dad and me here to help them find it. We continue down that path of faith every day, thriving. It’s much better than a treadmill.

- Chelsea

Parents of child with Down syndrome in hospital bed, medical equipment visible. They are smiling and holding hands.

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Older child touching the face of a baby with Down syndrome in a wooden crate, both outside on grass.

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Man standing behind a child with Down syndrome, both looking towards the camera, near a window.

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Baby with Down syndrome in a high chair wearing a black bow headband and green top, looking at the camera.

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Phone: +1 (855) 633-8849

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