By Sean Wolfe, 11th grade
There is no greater privilege for a human being than to have a child. From the moment of creation to the end of time, every infant has a unique story to tell. This story, written by God Himself, has been masterfully crafted since before the child was conceived. It is the story of an unrepeatable, irreplaceable, and beloved son or daughter, and it has the capacity to leave behind a legacy that can save a life. In my personal experience, I encounter a life-saving individual every day: my older brother Jordan. This young man means more to me than I can express. Born with Down syndrome, Jordan has recognized that he is different from others. He knows there are certain things that he is incapable of, most of which he has longed to do all of his life.
When discussing Jordan’s disabilities with my parents, they shared their experience of raising a child with Down syndrome. They said that on their wedding day, they made a solemn vow to lovingly accept children as a gift from God. Such a promise does not leave room for exceptions, and if it did, one would have to ask if people with disabilities are any less human than those without them. With this in mind, my father told me that raising Jordan was not some “heroic choice” but rather what any good parent would do. As the fifth child in my family of eight, Jordan is a profound example of graciously accepting life as it comes. When I look at him, I do not see a man defined by what he cannot do, but someone motivated by what he can. Time and again he reminds my family, simply by being himself, that happiness can be found in every circumstance.
For every difficulty that may arise in his life, a dozen more blessings can be found radiating from his smiling face. These blessings make up who Jordan is.
In his reflection upon Jordan’s impact, my dad told me that “if the rest of the world followed his example, we’d have a lot happier people.”
There is something divine about people with disabilities. Although there is a list of things that they are unable to do, there is one thing that they can do like no other: love. It has been said that “the eyes are the window to the soul.” The eyes of a person with disabilities do not reveal despair, hopelessness, or a mistake. In fact, there is more life in their eyes than in many people who call themselves “normal.” Instead, the eyes of a child with disabilities radiate a divine love. This is the love that brings hope, and hope has the capacity to save a life.
Sean Wolfe won third place in the high school category of the Culture of Life Studies Program’s 2025 Pro-Life Essay Contest.