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A dad has shared a message about his daughter with Down syndrome that we all need to read.

British father, Jason Kneen, has shared a heartfelt and honest Twitter thread dedicated to his daughter Rosie.

Four-year-old Rosie was born with Down syndrome – a genetic disorder which causes developmental and intellectual delays – and while he now openly and wholeheartedly celebrates his daughter for who she is, Jason says he “didn’t take it well initially”.

Beginning his Twitter thread with the question, “My child has Down syndrome, what should I expect?” the father of five then shared an adorable photo of Rosie smiling, before explaining how he came to champion his daughter’s condition.

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“I was totally NOT ready for a child like Rosie. It was a shock when she was born and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t take it well initially,” he wrote.

“Part of that was the matter-of-fact process that happens where you’re bombarded with documentation and booklets and basically ‘manuals’ on ‘what’s wrong and going to go wrong with your child’.

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“It’s devastating to hear how your child’s life has already been predicted and mapped out. All children are different — how can ANYONE predict their future?”

He eventually realised any child could be slow in learning how to talk or walk, but also that “any child can be brilliant and wonderful and amazing”.

Sharing the turning point in his perception, Jason said just before Christmas in 2017, Rosie was hospitalised for a case of Bronchitis which lead to Pneumonia. As his wife was also nursing a newborn baby at the time, he stayed with Rosie in hospital and was able to witness her resilience, strength and bravery.

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“Rosie and I became thick as thieves over that time and watched Moana together many times and EVERY SINGLE DAY,” he wrote.

“She met Father Christmas, and the Salisbury football team and just powered through it — with all the injections and tests and cables and pipes etc. She was amazing and SO brave.

“A year later and we had our Christmas at home and together and she continues to enjoy life, every day, and reminds us and ME how fun it all is.”

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Since sharing his honest and heartfelt love letter to his daughter, hundreds of parents and relatives of people with Down syndrome have also come forward with their cherished memories and photos.

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What did you think of Jason’s Twitter post? Can you relate? Tell us in a comment below.

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