Helen
My sister’s life has been a rollercoaster of turmoil and chaos, yet she remains the happiest, friendliest individual to walk the face of the earth. Everyone Helen meets is enthralled with her enthusiasm and humor; they become fast friends and immediately are swept up in to a flurry of games and stories and books and television shows. It’s hard to see her now and imagine that just 14 years ago she was undergoing open heart surgery, hooked up to a CPAP machine and relying on an oxygen tank. In this series I wanted to first of all focus on Helen – now – and how typical her life is today. Reading, watching TV, playing outside, drawing etc. I want to express how, though she may have down’s syndrome and does endure some differences, she is a typical 14 year-old 98% of the time. Classic ‘Helen’ activities like singing in the mirror as she gets ready, watching videos on her iPad, etc. will hold a special interest to those closest to her.