Tsubaki

The following feature is in partnership with GiGi's Playhouse - NYC. Find a Gigi’s achievement center near you at gigisplayhouse.org/locations.

Tsubaki, whose name is Japanese for “camellia flower,” is pictured here at 21 months old. The young New Jerseyan, whose parents are both from Japan, is now 2 years and 2 months old, and continues to develop her skills. Most noteworthy, perhaps, is her bilingual language practice. She’s learning Japanese and English, often repeating “thank you,” “more” and “bye-bye” in English, and “arigato” (“thank you”), “erai” (“good job”), “kawaii” (“cute”), and “oshimai” (“all done”) in Japanese. “Wheels on the Bus” and “Twinkle Little Star” are two favorite English songs of hers. (And Justin Bieber’s music, but so far she uses that for dancing!) At the moment, her other favorite activities are drawing and building with her blocks and Magna-Tiles— architecture may be in her future!

When not at home, Tsubaki receives six therapy sessions per week, split between physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and developmental intervention. Her parents note that this volume of early intervention support is far beyond what they’d have received in Japan, where these resources are limited. Support groups and centers like GiGi's Playhouse, Inc. are also less common there as they are in the United States. That may be a positive of social media and our resulting interconnectedness: we can know where things are better for the people that we love, and how we might imitate what’s being done for them.

Asuka and Tatsuya say that they “can't find any happier toddler than her around us. She just gives us joy. Whenever people see her, they just fall in love with her instantly.” (Can confirm this last one!) Tsubaki is known for smiling and waving at any and all passersby. Tatsuya adds, “We never thought we would be as happy as we are today. It's a wonderful and lovely journey with Tsubaki.”

When asked about what they’d like to tell expectant parents of a child with Down syndrome, they said simply, “They are just as special as any other child. It is a blessing and don't worry.” As a sibling, it’s hard to speak to the experience of a parent, but from my own perspective at least, I couldn’t agree more. Every day feels new and exciting when touched by the joy and love of a person with an extra chromosome. It is truly like no other— Tsubaki is a brilliant example.