Evgeny Anisimov loves his wife and is a young husband at 33. Couples never agree on everything, but no minor disagreement should be enough to cause a rift. That was the case, until the birth of Misha, his son.
When his wife gave birth to their child, it was as happy a moment as any childbirth until the news had to be broken to them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsnwGE1FGzY/
Their child had down syndrome, and the news took both parents by surprise. Evgeny had trouble dealing with the diagnosis but mustered up the determination to be the best father he could be, no matter the circumstances.
His wife though was not as keen or optimistic as him. She wanted to surrender the boy to foster care, a suggestion that Evgeny definitely didn’t get behind.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9mjTeIJb3x/
In fact, he used the word “Inhumane” to describe it. No sugarcoating there.
Misha was still his son, and Evgeny knew that Misha deserved to be happy and have a father in his life. Now, he wasn’t expecting a medal or anything.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8egDG5p403/
He was just fulfilling his obligation as a child’s father, even if the initial news made him cry for a bit. But Evgeny’s thoughts weren’t “This is a child with Down Syndrome“, they were “This is my son.”
Dealing with diagnoses like this is never an easy burden to bear for both parent and child, but parenting is never easy. In case this page’s name didn’t tell you that already.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9HSaw4JStz/
The first order of business was to learn more about Down Syndrome. Evgeny had to understand what his son had in order to know what he needed.
Down Syndrome is caused by a 3rd copy of chromosome 21. There’s no cure for it, and all you can do for someone with down syndrome is to give them the best life they can have.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9oJzIYpTgT/
It goes without saying that we are from a universally supportive and accepting society when it comes to people with learning difficulties, disabilities, or genetic disorders.
Misha can’t speak or stand up for himself. His dad has to do that for him, and nothing is going to stop him.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZQ65bpDyc/
Evgeny made sure to take the opportunity to educate more people about raising children with Down Syndrome. Every chance he gets is a chance for people to learn. Make no mistake, this isn’t for social media attention or anything of the sort.
He wants to make sure that more parents don’t see children like Misha, and then think of giving them to foster homes or leaving them.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_flcKoJmxI/
His genes may be different, but he feels happiness and love like everyone else.
“I want all the articles about Mishka and me that are being published now to convey that idea to society and instill it. And I also want to support, inspire with my example those people who are or will be in the same situation as me. I try to communicate with those who are within reach, I correspond with those who are far away. I hope that those who have difficulties now, as it was for us, read about us. Have no fear! Everything will be fine!” – Evgeny says in a Boredpanda article
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDzS5XyppBY/
Misha, at his age and with his condition, probably doesn’t even know that he’s different from other people. All he knows is that his dad loves him. Evgeny is going to make sure everyone loves people like Misha as much as he does.
We all take time to learn these things, and Evgeny himself isn’t exempted. He cried tears of embarrassment when he first found out that his son had Down Syndrome.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDo437tJclW/
Then, quickly pulling himself together, came to his senses and thought that he had nothing to be embarrassed about. No father should be embarrassed by their own child, especially when they’ve just been born. This thought came to Evgeny pretty quickly.
As Evgeny said so himself, he still had all his arms and legs, a steady job, and a child.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFM6EvBJRP7/
Genetic disorders and complications are always a risk when considering having kids, so it’s not like he didn’t know what was in store for him when he signed up as a father.
He sought to educate himself more on Down Syndrome, and in the process, learned how little he had to worry. In Europe, people with down syndrome can socialize and fit into society just fine, albeit with the natural difficulty brought on by their condition.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLHMHIJQDT/
But they can live in peace and happiness, and anything past that is secondary.
“When I made the decision, I had not yet thought about the likelihood of an optimistic scenario. I thought: well, he’s going to enjoy the sunrise, I’m going to take him out to barbecue, he’s going to live his life. Yes, maybe he seems unhappy to someone, but he will have his own life. At no time did I think of leaving my son in an orphanage, that would be inhumane.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGVaSCppQo_/
Down Syndrome affects about 1 in 1,000 children, and mental impairment is the most common effect brought upon by it. Despite this, down syndrome isn’t exactly a death sentence.
Though that hasn’t stopped quite the stigma developing behind it.
If you’re keen on making a better world for kids like Misha to grow up in, a great way to start is the way Evgeny did. Understanding what they have to deal with, and learning how to unlearn things like a stigma, too. That way, more people with Down Syndrome can smile as brightly as baby Misha.
Give this article a share, and try to start the conversation yourself!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
