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“I Made The Team!”: 14-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Gets Emotional Telling Her Dad She Was Accepted To School’s Dance Team
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“I Made The Team!”: 14-Year-Old With Down Syndrome Gets Emotional Telling Her Dad She Was Accepted To School’s Dance Team

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People with disabilities usually have a tougher time participating in activities that others can do without any effort or worries. And they have a harder time not only fitting in physically, but also socially as they tend to be looked down upon. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t do things, because where there’s a will, there’s a way.

A perfect example of that is Bree Cox, who has Down syndrome and who recently got accepted to her school’s drill team. She got really excited about it when telling it to her dad and a video of her showing tears of joy touched people’s hearts.

More info: Instagram

A teen girl with Down syndrome, Bree Cox, was telling her dad that she made it to her school’s dance team and then burst into unexpected happy tears

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Bree Cox is a 14-year-old girl from Murray in Utah who found out that she made the competition for her school’s dance team. Getting through a competition would be a big deal for anyone, but it seems like an even greater accomplishment when you keep in mind that Bree has Down syndrome. She has become an inspiration to those with special needs and proves that they are amazing people too.

Bree’s mom, Kecia Cox, told PEOPLE that her daughter’s initial reaction was calm, as if she wasn’t surprised that she made it, because that was how it was supposed to be. But later that night, Bree called to give the good news to her dad, who was working late and the strong emotions came through.

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Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Video credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Immediately after getting the news, Bree didn’t make a big deal out of it, but while she was telling it to her dad over the phone, emotions took over

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

It was a touching moment for everyone as Bree was crying with joy, because she was so proud of herself and happy. Kecia said that it was the first time this happened, because before, she would only cry when she was sad.

The video was liked by more than 63k people and they were all congratulating Bree for achieving her dreams. And it was really a dream for her. As her mom said, Bree really looks up to her two older sisters who already dance and even learnt all of their dances in hopes that she would also be able to be part of the team.

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Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Bree has loved dancing her whole life and now is following in her older sisters’ footsteps by being a part of the school’s drill team

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

According to the CDC, Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies in the United States. To put it simply, Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome which leads to mental and physical challenges that vary from person to person.

Because often people with disabilities are discriminated against, Bree’s mom was worried about how it would affect her daughter if she got rejected. She explained that Bree herself doesn’t think she has a disability, she just knows that she’s a bit different. And Kecia is the last person who would want to limit her, but a mother can’t help but be concerned that her child might get hurt.

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Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

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Bree knows that she’s different from others and deals with different challenges, but hopefully this experience will remind her that she is capable of conquering anything

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Image credits: lovemakesmiracles_

Turns out, all the worries were in vain and Bree got a spot on the team. Bree’s mom thinks that her daughter’s little victory can be a step towards being more accepting towards people with special needs in general.

Now Bree is very busy, but the joy hasn’t faded away. She finally feels like she’s where she belongs and Kecia hopes that this will help her daughter not feel like she’s not good enough because of her medical condition.

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People in the comments were congratulating Bree for her accomplishment and got teary-eyed too

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Jurgita Dominauskaitė

Jurgita Dominauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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Having started as a content creator that made articles for Bored Panda from scratch I climbed my way up to being and editor and then had team lead responsibilities added as well. So it was a pretty natural transition from writing articles and titles as well as preparing the visual part for the articles to making sure others are doing those same tasks as I did before well, answering their questions and guiding them when needed. Eventually I realized editing gives me the most enjoyment and I'm focusing only on that right now.

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Jurgita Dominauskaitė

Jurgita Dominauskaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

Having started as a content creator that made articles for Bored Panda from scratch I climbed my way up to being and editor and then had team lead responsibilities added as well. So it was a pretty natural transition from writing articles and titles as well as preparing the visual part for the articles to making sure others are doing those same tasks as I did before well, answering their questions and guiding them when needed. Eventually I realized editing gives me the most enjoyment and I'm focusing only on that right now.

Lukas Garnelis

Lukas Garnelis

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Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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Lukas Garnelis

Lukas Garnelis

Author, Community member

Lukas is a photo editor at Bored Panda. 4th year in Vilnius Gediminas Technical University as a graphic designer. Can do whatever he sets his mind to.

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Ray Martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is lovely! You know, for a few years now there has been a lot of focus on autism, and how it it is not just one thing but a very wide spectrum. I don't know if I'll ever see it in my remaining lifetime, but I would dearly love to see a global recognition that humanity itself is also a wide spectrum, and that we all face challenges in our lives, some greater than others. It's time we grew up as a species and recognised that being different is not something to be penalised for.

Anita Pickle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have happy tears too. This was beautiful to watch. You can tell she is such a good person. Warms my heart.

Emma London
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Btw, she's in excellent shape! Persons with Down syndrome have naturally snow metabolism and they tend to gain weight very easily. Just looking at her and her family tells how much she and her parents have invested in her health and well being.

k1ddkanuck
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not though. Every family deals with unique circumstances. It's 3 kids. It's like saying "3 of their kids dealt with addiction" or "3 of their kids have ADHD" or "3 of their kids have severe allergies". These are awesome, amazing, living people, who I'm sure those parents couldn't bare to be without. I'm happy for those parents. They have a family, and that's what matters.

Load More Replies...
Kim Lorton
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bree, you are a testament to love snd joy! Congratulations!! One day, i hope and pray, people will realize we are not defined by what we can’t do, but by what we can! I am really happy for you!!!✨✨✨💥💥💥💥💥💥🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a random fact but I was so intrigued by this awesome family I followed them on Instagram, 2 older daughters, then one daughter with Downs, they then adopted another girl the same age who also has Downs, then they had identical twin girls, then they adopted another little boy with Downs! Amazing family! And I just learned that they are also Mormons with the LDS church.

Elaina Gatch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is AWESOME! her determination is moving and, truly out of this world. U ROCK!

Aalva Jitab
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Listen to this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JC-7c7w4c31_tMRC0z7UuYT0i50J6XYB/view?usp=sharing Bree you are such an inspiration :)

Ray Martin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is lovely! You know, for a few years now there has been a lot of focus on autism, and how it it is not just one thing but a very wide spectrum. I don't know if I'll ever see it in my remaining lifetime, but I would dearly love to see a global recognition that humanity itself is also a wide spectrum, and that we all face challenges in our lives, some greater than others. It's time we grew up as a species and recognised that being different is not something to be penalised for.

Anita Pickle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have happy tears too. This was beautiful to watch. You can tell she is such a good person. Warms my heart.

Emma London
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Btw, she's in excellent shape! Persons with Down syndrome have naturally snow metabolism and they tend to gain weight very easily. Just looking at her and her family tells how much she and her parents have invested in her health and well being.

k1ddkanuck
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not though. Every family deals with unique circumstances. It's 3 kids. It's like saying "3 of their kids dealt with addiction" or "3 of their kids have ADHD" or "3 of their kids have severe allergies". These are awesome, amazing, living people, who I'm sure those parents couldn't bare to be without. I'm happy for those parents. They have a family, and that's what matters.

Load More Replies...
Kim Lorton
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Bree, you are a testament to love snd joy! Congratulations!! One day, i hope and pray, people will realize we are not defined by what we can’t do, but by what we can! I am really happy for you!!!✨✨✨💥💥💥💥💥💥🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a random fact but I was so intrigued by this awesome family I followed them on Instagram, 2 older daughters, then one daughter with Downs, they then adopted another girl the same age who also has Downs, then they had identical twin girls, then they adopted another little boy with Downs! Amazing family! And I just learned that they are also Mormons with the LDS church.

Elaina Gatch
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is AWESOME! her determination is moving and, truly out of this world. U ROCK!

Aalva Jitab
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Listen to this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JC-7c7w4c31_tMRC0z7UuYT0i50J6XYB/view?usp=sharing Bree you are such an inspiration :)

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