We often take turning one year older for granted. It is especially true when we are younger but for some of us, even turning a year older when we are seniors goes by without much fanfare. Sure, many people celebrate the big years, such as 80, 90 or 100 but time seems to move so quickly that we often let other years go by without celebrating. After all, we are not necessarily turning a year older, we are turning a day older and we realize that every day is precious.
For an individual named Georgie Wildgust, however, every day that goes by is another amazing day to be alive. He is a British man who was born with Down syndrome and his story is not only interesting, it is inspirational. We realize that a person with Down syndrome can live a long, satisfying life but typically, they don’t live quite as long as the average person. They have a number of difficulties that they may face as a result of their disability, but for Wildgust, it just seems as if he is able to overcome every problem.
Wildgust was born in 1942 and diagnosed with Down syndrome. At the time, the doctors felt that he would not live until his 10th birthday but the doctors were way off.
Georgie has recently celebrated his 77th birthday and he was surrounded by the people he loves. Not only is he 77 years old, he also happens to be a record-breaker. The man from Nottingham, England is the oldest living British person who is diagnosed with Down syndrome.
According to his 44-year-old niece, Nikki Wright, his childhood has a lot to do with his longevity. Even though he suffered from a disability, he was raised being told that he could accomplish anything.
At the time when he was a child, many other children with Down syndrome were sent away to live in institutions. Georgie had the opportunity to live a normal childhood, playing with other kids in the neighborhood and, according to reports, he was never picked on by other children.
As an adult, he gained a semblance of normalcy. He lives in a group home and does his best to live life to the fullest. He is an artist, enjoying retirement and he loves to dance.
George even has a girlfriend, Lorraine who was also a resident at the home when he met her. They are now in a long-distance relationship because she moved out of the home. Nikki says that they communicate regularly through Skype.
Georgie also had two siblings when he was growing up, a younger brother (Colin) had an older sister who now lives in Australia, (Jean Yessyan). Unfortunately, his younger brother died three years ago when he was 71 years old.
When Georgie entered the group home in 1993, he had jobs that included gardening and rug making. He is now enjoying his retirement, just like anybody who retired after being employed for a long time.
The genetic disorder known as Down syndrome occurs when an individual is bored with an extra copy of chromosome 21. It is not fully known why the condition takes place but experts feel that the disorder is more often seen in children of older mothers.
When Georgie was born, the life expectancy of a child with Down syndrome was only 22 years. Thanks to proper care and medical advancement, the number is increasing and is approaching the 60-year benchmark according to the National Down Syndrome Society.
Now that Georgie is 77 years old, he has beaten the odds.
The short lifespan of people with Down syndrome was often attributed to poor care. They are also prone to various health issues, including hearing problems, Alzheimer’s and heart defects. Fortunately, modern medicine has enabled many of these individuals to lead long, happy lives.
Source: Shareably