Mum creates beautiful photoshoot with son who has Down’s Syndrome 10 years after she was told to have an abortion

SAM March 15, 2020

Grady, ten, who has Down's syndrome posing for a photoshot with gold bits on his body — Little Grady is now ten years old (Picture: Erin Witkowski )

When photographer Erin Witkowski was pregnant with her second child, she found out that her son has Down’s syndrome.

Doctors told the 31-year-old from New York that she had two weeks to make a decision on whether to continue her pregnancy and that they were sorry.

But Erin and her high school sweetheart partner Paul knew it wasn’t even a discussion they were going to have.

The couple welcomed Grady into the world with open arms and now, ten years later, as the youngster celebrates his birthday, Erin created a special photoshoot.

The now mum-of-four honoured her special son with a shoot that was inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi which uses powdered gold, silver, or platinum to repair broken pottery pieces by mending them together.

Adorning little Grady with specks of gold, she said that no part of him is broken.

Writing a poignant Facebook post, she wrote: ‘The doctor’s first words after we sat down were: “I’m sorry your son has Down’s syndrome, you have two weeks to make a decision”. The only decision we made was to NEVER go back to that Dr’s office or deliver there.’

Erin then shared the reason why she decided to create the photoshoot: ‘Today is Grady’s tenth birthday. To celebrate this milestone of joy, I photographed him next to stained glass to bring full circle our story.

‘And to every mark that they see on an ultrasound or (after a child is born) that points to Down’s syndrome or what the world calls broken, we filled in with gold. “Golden Joinery” like the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi. Kintsugi often makes the repaired piece even more beautiful than the original.’

She added: ‘Oh my Grady, no prenatal test could predict that you are filled with a heart of gold, you are joy and love rolled into the most perfect child. Your challenges never ever outweigh your joy.

‘You were sent here to help other fill in their broken pieces with drops of your gold made by the Creator himself.’