Mom Writes Target a Letter After Seeing Her Son With Down Syndrome Featured in Catalog

This is precious!

Popular Sugar reports:

When Erin Statz opened Target’s annual toy catalog and saw her son featured, she couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by emotions. Her 2-year-old son, Ronin, was born with Down syndrome, and although one in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome in the United States, it’s not often we see these children modeling in advertisements.

Here’s the letter:

“Dear Target,

When my son Ronin was born with Down syndrome two years ago, we were shocked and scared but also saddened. Not saddened by the fact he had Down syndrome but by how we knew society would view him. What would his future be like?

So today, I never imagined my son would be featured in your advertisement three times, with the latest being in your annual Toy book! You CHOSE to feature two children with Down syndrome and one child in a wheelchair in this year’s toy book and it’s awesome! By featuring my son in your advertising, you are showing society that all people matter and all people should be treated like everyone else. And I can show the world that Down syndrome isn’t scary, the possibilities are endless, and most importantly my son and our family are not suffering. Ronin is the blessing I never knew I needed. How did I get so lucky?

Cheers to you Target for leading the way in this important mission. I hope many more companies and most importantly people will make inclusion happen and make it stay!”