After a difficult year of medical issues, a 1-year-old girl’s grin grew even brighter as her happy papa held her up in front of her larger-than-life portrait, which was displayed on a Jumbotron in Times Square as part of a Down syndrome awareness campaign.

Olivia Chandler, who was born with Down syndrome, celebrated her first birthday on August 16; less than a month later, she made her New York debut on September 9 as part of Buddy Walk, the National Down Syndrome Society’s flagship event since 1995.

Following Olivia’s challenging first year of life, it was a triumphant occasion for the family.

“We had a really good summer period when we didn’t have to worry about the hospital or anything like that, so being on the Jumbotron was just icing on the cake,” Lori Orr, Lori Orr’s mother, says. “It was a horrible year, and we just needed something positive to come out of all of this.”

Olivia’s breathing difficulties began soon after she was born. Orr, a 39-year-old respiratory therapist, detected a problem almost immediately.

But they were surprised when the doctor informed them that Baby Olivia may have Down syndrome.

“Me and my husband looked at each other, and the blood just fell out of him; he was just in shock,” recalls Orr, who also has a 9-year-old son. “I was as well. This was his first biological kid, and we didn’t know anything about Down syndrome.”

Orr recalls discussing an ultrasound with the doctor, who informed her that she had only a very small probability of having a child with Down syndrome. And everything was swiftly forgotten until Olivia was born.

Their doctor instructed them not to Google anything until all of the tests were completed, but the parents began searching the internet as soon as she left the room. Despite the fact that everything they read terrified them, Orr claims that they “didn’t have time to really think about it for too long because she was so sick.”

“She wasn’t eating enough and wasn’t getting enough calories.” “We were having so many problems with her that we put the possibility of Down syndrome on the back burner,” Orr explains.

Olivia’s parents noticed she wasn’t gaining weight and was vomiting all the time soon after they brought her home. Olivia was diagnosed with failure to thrive (FTT) and a cardiac issue, both of which are typical in Down syndrome newborns.

According to Orr, during surgery, it was revealed that her laryngeal nerve had also been damaged, and she had a paralyzed voice chord.

“But that whole time, even after heart surgery, she was smiling,” Orr said. “She has this awesome spirit that will just change you on the inside and make you smile on the outside.”

With time and more trustworthy information, the couple learned more about Down syndrome.

According to the CDC, Down syndrome is the most prevalent chromosomal abnormality identified in the United States, and around 6,000 new babies are born with it each year.

“We should not have been crying about what we learned on Google because it’s a lot of scary, outdated information,” Orr said. “She’s the happiest little girl on the planet, and she just melts your heart. “I can’t picture my life without her.”

Orr attributes many of her first concerns to being “uneducated and unprepared.”

“I think we would not have been so sad in the beginning if someone had let us know it was going to be okay, especially in those first few months,” Orr said.

Orr eventually found support in the Central Oklahoma City Down Syndrome Association.

“They invited us to a picnic last spring here in the city, and that was the first time we had any contact with anyone in the Down syndrome community,” Orr said.

Orr decided to enter the contest she saw while reading the internet this past April on a whim. Olivia had spent “pretty much” the first seven months of her life in the hospital, she claims.

“Every time we’d go home, she’d get a virus or something, and we’d be right back at the hospital,” Orr adds. “So when we took her to get pictures at seven months, her smile was incredible. “I wasn’t sure if she’d be picked, but with that smile, I was hoping she would.”

In the end, there were around 2,400 entries, and Olivia’s grin helped her stand out.

“Seeing Olivia’s photo and that sweet smile, we knew we wanted her photo displayed in the 2023 Times Square Video,” Missy Adams, the National Down Syndrome Society’s community events manager, tells people. “This year, 95% of the photos chosen were chosen for the first time for this event.” Our objective is to provide as many individuals as possible the opportunity to have their photos shown on Times Square’s enormous displays.”

On August 1, Orr learned at work that Olivia was one of the lucky recipients. The family booked a ticket and a hotel immediately and arrived in time for a few days of touring.

“Olivia did an excellent job.” Everywhere we went, on the subway or the bus, she was always smiling at someone, and someone was always smiling back,” Orr adds. “People made all kinds of nice comments to us the whole time.”

What about Olivia’s nice, smiling shot with the Jumbotron in the background? It wasn’t planned ahead of time.

“Of course she was grinning ear-to-ear, so I posted the photo, and all those comments started coming in about how beautiful she is,” Orr said. “She’s spreading so much awareness about Down syndrome, and that’s awesome.”

While in New York, the family also attended a few events. The National Down Syndrome Society founded the Buddy Walk program, which raises both finances and awareness, in 1995 to promote acceptance and inclusion.

“There was a girl with Down syndrome who sang the national anthem and a boy who gave a great motivational speech,” Orr said. “Just seeing all those thousands of people was really neat and so inspiring.”

For the time being, their days are consumed with Olivia’s medical demands. Chandler, 41, and Orr juggle shifts to ensure that one of them is always there to care for their kid.

“He’s just the best dad ever,” adds Orr. “She’s not at the point where anyone else can take care of her yet, and he does everything for her.” (Olivia’s 9-year-old brother, Jaxson Whitehead, also contributes.)

Orr says she wants to reassure parents who find their child has Down syndrome that everything will be OK and that there are groups in the community that can assist if they seek out

“Your life will change, and that child will change you.” “These kids and adults with Down syndrome are changing the world,” Orr adds. “Even with a regular child, you never know what the future holds. We’re just trying to provide the greatest possible life for my children, Jaxon and Olivia.”