The parents of twins with Down syndrome have a powerful message for the world:
“There is nothing to be ashamed of, nothing to pity, and certainly nothing to look down upon.”
After experiencing the heartbreak of a miscarriage, Jodi and Matt Parry were overjoyed when they discovered they were expecting twins in 2010.
Their son, Finlay, was already at home, and the couple had been hoping to expand their family. Learning that they were expecting two babies felt like an incredible blessing.
Their identical twin daughters, Abigail and Isobel, arrived six weeks earlier than expected and were immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.
After several weeks, doctors began to suspect that the girls might have Down syndrome and recommended further testing.
When the results confirmed the diagnosis, Jodi and Matt were devastated.
They knew very little about Down syndrome and suddenly found themselves facing a future filled with questions and uncertainty.
Jodi later described the moment when she and Matt were called into a private room to receive the results.
Hearing that both of their daughters had Down syndrome left her feeling as though her entire world had collapsed.
Yet when she returned to the room and looked at her sleeping babies, something changed.
Her love for Abigail and Isobel had not diminished. If anything, she felt even more deeply connected to them.
Determined to understand what the diagnosis meant, Jodi began researching Down syndrome.
She quickly encountered information about possible health complications, including heart conditions, hearing difficulties, and thyroid problems.
Rather than waiting and worrying, the couple asked the doctors to conduct comprehensive medical examinations.
The tests revealed that Isobel had a small hole in her heart, while Abigail was deaf. Both girls also had an underactive thyroid.
Fortunately, after receiving the necessary care, the twins were eventually able to go home with their parents.
Life gradually settled into a new routine filled with love, family time, and regular medical appointments.
But Jodi and Matt soon realized something else: conversations about Down syndrome often focused heavily on challenges while overlooking the joy, individuality, and possibilities that children with Down syndrome bring to their families.
They wanted to change that.
Together, they created Twincess, a community designed to support parents and families of children with Down syndrome.
The organization provides information, resources, encouragement, and—perhaps most importantly—a way for families to connect with others who understand the journey firsthand.
Jodi explained that having a child with Down syndrome can sometimes feel isolating.
Although healthcare professionals provided plenty of medical information, what she and Matt wanted most was to speak with someone who had already experienced what they were going through.
Twincess was created to provide exactly that kind of support.
Over time, the community grew to include events and fundraising activities aimed at raising awareness and supporting families.
From talent shows and formal charity events to football tournaments and golf days, Twincess celebrates the lives and achievements of people with Down syndrome.
The family’s message is simple: Down syndrome should not be viewed through fear, pity, or prejudice.
As Jodi has emphasized, having an extra chromosome does not make someone less worthy or less capable of experiencing love, happiness, friendship, achievement, and belonging.
For Jodi and Matt, Abigail and Isobel were never defined by a diagnosis.
They were—and always will be—their beloved daughters.
