You may want to have tissue ready because this story about Jorie Rogers, a terminally ill mother from Missouri, is touching, inspirational, and heart-breaking. Jorie has an incurable form of cancer. Jorie also has a son with Down Syndrome, who is in all respects a miracle baby (more on that later). When Jorie was approached by Illinois nonprofit 3 Little Birds for Life, which grants the requests of young adults with cancer, her wish was not just for herself, but for her son as well.
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Knowing that her son Tristan's first birthday would be the one and only birthday that she would be able to spend with him, Jorie's wish was for her son to have a phenomenal carnival themed birthday party with pictures and videos that he could look back on and treasure once his mother was no longer around. 3 Little Birds for Life provided a wonderful birthday party that Jorie wouldn't have been able to provide herself due to all the debt incurred by medical bills.
As if this story weren't touching enough, Tristan was truly an unexpected and joyful addition to the Rogers family. Jorie's radiation treatments were supposed to leave her infertile, but after marrying her high school sweetheart, George Rogers, the couple became pregnant. It wasn't until their son Tristan was born that they found out he had Down syndrome. Jorie was unfazed. "Of all the things that could go wrong, if that's the worst, then we can handle Down syndrome," Jorie told TV station KSDK.
So what about Tristan's birthday party? The party was a success! There were jugglers, a popcorn machine, a bubble machine, and the moments were captured in photographs and video. Even the weather cooperated. On the days leading up to the celebration the weather in Ladue was cold and dreary, but come the morning of the party, the skies were bright and the sun's rays blessed Tristan's party.
I am so touched by Jorie Roger's strength and wisdom. In her final moments as a mother to have the insight to provide a celebration for her son that he can always look back on is just amazing and such a testament to her love. This child will never doubt how much his mother loved, appreciated, and wanted him.
Image via NBC
