{"id":227483,"date":"2020-07-18T13:17:49","date_gmt":"2020-07-18T18:17:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=227483"},"modified":"2020-07-17T22:38:22","modified_gmt":"2020-07-18T03:38:22","slug":"teenager-down-syndrome-mothers-grave-message","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/teenager-down-syndrome-mothers-grave-message\/","title":{"rendered":"Teenager with Down syndrome visits mother’s grave with an important message"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

Paul Marshall Jr. is a teenager with Down syndrome whose mother, LaTonya, unfortunately passed away in 2010. Yet her memory remains alive for him, and he made sure to include her in a recent accomplishment. Marshall graduated from high school, but on the way to the ceremony, he made sure to stop and visit her grave in an emotional video that has captured the hearts of thousands.<\/p>\n

Marshall was just nine years old when his mother died of cancer, and his father, Paul Sr., has been there for him ever since. “Paul Jr. was born with one functioning kidney and a defective heart,\u201d Paul Sr. told KSLA, but added that his son is always there for the people he loves. \u201cIf you\u2019re having a bad day, or going through something, Paul Jr. is the person you want to be around and talking to that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ:\u00a0Over 35,000 people watch Down syndrome self-advocate marry her sweetheart<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When it came time for his graduation, Paul Jr. knew he needed to include his mother. \u201cA week before he said, ‘I want to go by mom\u2019s grave and take some flowers’,” Paul Sr. recalled. So that was what they did, with Paul Jr. dressed up for the occasion while he carried flowers. In the now-viral video, Paul Jr. told his mom the one thing she had been praying for before she died.<\/p>\n

“Mommy, I have something to say,” he began. “I did it. I did. I graduated today. I know you’d be so proud of me, and happy, and I love you so much.”<\/p>\n