Girl With Down Syndrome, Autism, and Cerebral Palsy Graduates From College, Wins Award
Born prematurely with the odds stacked against her, this 22-year-old woman has since defied her diagnoses of Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism.
While doctors had said she may never walk, talk, read, or write, over the years, she braved through to graduate high school, complete community college, and even win a coveted award.
Jessica Faith Lonergan, of Mount Vernon, Washington, now teaches workshops to encourage other students with developmental delays to pursue their college dreams.
“She thinks she’s a rock star all the time,” her mother, Joy Caldwell, told the Skagit Valley Herald.