Taking Down Syndrome to the big screen
When Wendy Dayton, a subrogation/arbitration specialist with Grinnell Mutual, was 13 weeks pregnant with her second son, Harrison, in 2022, a genetic test revealed an anomaly that at the time, felt devastating and life-changing. Harrison had trisomy 21, commonly referred to as Down syndrome. Harrison is now 2-and-a-half.
“I guess you could call it the stages of grief. Everything you’re expecting, planning, hoping for is suddenly gone and there’s a new reality,” Dayton said.
It didn’t take long, however for the Dayton family — Wendy, husband Jake, and son Barrett (now 5), who live in Malcom, Iowa — to turn devastation into determination, research, and advocacy.
“I’m his mom. Of course I’m going to do everything I can to advocate for my child. I’m his voice,” said Dayton. “So I grew my village, connecting with moms of Down syndrome kids all over the country.”
Dayton also began working with national and local support, research, and advocacy organizations. She is active with Hawkeye Area Down Syndrome Association and serves on their board.
Life with Harrison
The family’s life did indeed change once their second son was born. Harrison, like many people with trisomy 21, has complex medical needs and he has given the Daytons more than one bad health scare.
In 2024, Harrison nearly died from something that began as parainfluenza virus — an illness with symptoms like the common cold — that because of his compromised immune system, turned into necrotizing pneumonia, leaving him intubated for 13 days.
Though Dayton admits Harrison’s complex medical needs are “exhausting and stressful, his medical providers truly care for him and listen to our concerns.
“And while Harrison’s diagnosis was initially very difficult to come to terms with, we now feel it’s a true blessing. We are part of this amazing and supportive community. It has made us more empathetic and patient. We celebrate every little milestone.”
Making strides
Just months after his long hospital stay, Harrison took his first toddling steps and this year he took one giant one. On Sept. 6, his happy grin was super-sized as one of the faces of Down syndrome on the Times Square Jumbotron.
Dayton entered his picture in the yearly photo contest sponsored by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and Harrison was selected as one of the 500 people (of 2,500 submissions) to appear in the video presentation this year. All four of the Daytons traveled to see the event in person.
“It was an amazing experience to see Harrison and so many beautiful people on Jumbotron, and to be surrounded by their families and friends supporting each person on the screen,” Dayton said. “Harrison made some new friends and waved at every person he met. I also got to meet moms I’ve connected with through Down syndrome groups but hadn’t been able to meet in person.”