Harrogate mum makes a stand for her beautiful little boy against 'outdated perceptions'

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Both Wendy Puckrin and her young son, who was born with the condition, appear briefly in the film to promote What Do You See which recently topped the Amazon best sellers chart, pipping music legend Mariah Carey.

Released as part of the current Christmas campaign by Wouldntchangeathing.org, its message of “trying to spread positivity about Down’s Syndrome” is one shared strongly by this devoted mother.

Wendy, 46, said: “Elijah was such a teeny tiny baby when he was born but he is an amazing child. His zest for life is second-to-none, he has an infectious smile and his laugh should be bottled and distributed on the NHS. He is the reason I breathe.”

This isn’t the first time that Wendy, who works as a support analyst in Harrogate, has been involved in charity campaigns to give people in the Down Syndrome community something positive to get behind.

Wendy said: “I started Elijah’s Facebook page called This Is Elijah after he was born in 2013 when he was around six-months-old.

“I wrote a letter to a UKIP MP after he claimed women were morally obligated to abort any foetus with Down Syndrome.

“The letter caused quite a stir and I realised that there is so much negativity out there.”

The video and single Wendy and Elijah appeared in recently was released early by parents charity Wouldntchangeathing.org after national controversy broke over a Down Syndrome storyline in popular TV soap Emmerdale.

Wendy said she is utterly committed to raising awareness on the pressures some pregnant mothers face to have terminations when first diagnosed.

She said: “The termination rate for a positive diagnosis is already at 92% and termination is allowed at any point in pregnancy in the UK. Elijah was born at 38 weeks but I could have terminated this healthy boy’s life just on the basis of an extra chromosome.

“My son is happy and healthy, yet I keep having to defend his very right to exist. No parent should have to do that.”

“I do talks at universities to try to stamp out language such as ‘high risk’ or ‘it’s bad news’.

“I am not anti-abortion, I am pro-choice. What choice do parents think they have at the moment when all they are fed is negativity about the condition?

“We just want to show a balanced and honest view.”

Wendy does not regard bringing up her beloved son as a struggle but more as an adventure.

She feels the song What Do You See is the perfect encapsulation of how she feels and how she believes everyone should feel on an issue still dogged by the perceptions of a bygone era.

Wendy said: “Every baby is different, every baby develops at their own rate. My boy has Down Syndrome and I wouldn’t change a hair on his head.

"He makes me proud every day. He has the most beautiful eyes.

“Every little milestone that Elijah achieves makes me want to burst with pride.”

Wouldn’t Change A Thing charity: Factfile

Wouldn’t Change a Thing is a charity launched by parents of children with Down Syndrome after a video of parents and their children who have Down’s singing went viral in 2018.

Its aim is to “create a world where negative perceptions of Down Syndrome are a thing of the past”.

It is estimated there are 40,000 people with Down Syndrome, a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome, which determines how the baby’s body and brain develop - which can, in turn, cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby. The condition occurs by pure chance and every person is unique with their own level of abilities.

Wouldn’t Change a Thing’s Facebook page is followed by more than 40,000 people.

Down Syndrome is a lifelong condition. Services early in life will often help babies and children with Down Syndrome to improve their physical and intellectual abilities. The video of the charity single What Do You See can be viewed at the Wouldn’t Change A Thing Facebook page.

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