Illinois Mom Writes Viral Letter After Kids Avoid Son With Down Syndrome
A Palatine woman wrote a heartfelt Facebook post that has since gone viral.
The woman, Kristen Rumphol, and her 11-year-old son, Brandon planned a day of fun in the sun and some swimming at a local pool in nearby Algonquin.
Rumphol's Facebook letter mentioned while at the pool her "heart was breaking" because "NO ONE wanted to play" with her son. "He would go up to other kids and say 'hi boy or hi girl.'" and is "still categorized as nonverbal" and "hard to understand."
"Every single time the kids would either look at him weird and say nothing or just swim away" and her son would turn to his mom "with a look of disappointment" Rumphol added.
The Facebook post currently has over 12,000 shares and 1,100 comments with most sharing similar stories or giving words of encouragement.
Rumphol secretly hoped her Facebook letter "might go viral" to help "spread awareness." saying all special needs children "just want to be loved, accepted and included."
Since the post went up late last week, "The Rumphol family has also been back to the pool three times and already sees a difference." according to CBS 2 Chicago.
Rumphol told CBS 2 Chicago, “Kids have started coming up to Brandon and greeting him by name, so parents must be talking to their kids about it.”
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