A person with Down Syndrome is often not expected to live long.
With an average IQ of 50, equivalent to a child who’s just 8 years old, those with Down Syndrome often have learning difficulties and might not even graduate from Grade School.
But there are those who defy the odds, living a long life and even excelling in their studies!
One of these is Brina Kei Maxino, a young woman from the Philippines who defied the odds and became an inspiration to many.
Photo credit: Brina Kei Maxino / Facebook
In a viral Facebook post, Brina detailed how her parents were told by doctors the bad news when she was just 9 days old.
Diagnosed with Down Syndrome, Brina was not expected to live long; her parents were told by the doctors to prepare for the worse. But Brina is now 23 years old!
Back she was just 11 years old, a psychologist told her parents that she probably won’t be able to finish Grade School due to learning difficulties.
Again, Brina surprised everyone as she graduated Valedictorian – not just from Grade School but even in High School! Moreover, she did that in a regular school, not a special education school.
Photo credit: Brina Kei Maxino / Facebook
In her Facebook post, Brina shared that though the psychologist told her parents she isn’t likely to graduate from Grade School, she completed three College courses: a 4-year degree in AB History from CAP College Foundation, Inc., a 2-year course in Associate in Arts, and a 1-year course in General Clerical Skills.
Photo credit: Brina Kei Maxino / Facebook
This young lady isn’t just an academic achiever, she also became a Special Olympics Global Youth Ambassador.
Thanks to this designation, she was able to inspire more people as she traveled across the Philippines and to many destinations abroad.
Today, she works as an Assistant Teacher at Pean Integrated School of Parañaque.
Photo credit: Brina Kei Maxino / Facebook
In fact, she was invited to a dinner for the Special Olympics at the White House in Washington, D.C, sharing her story and inspiring no less than former US President Barack Obama and many other people, including several other heads of state.
Photo credit: Brina Kei Maxino / Facebook
Kudos to you, Brina! Continue being an inspiration to us all…
