From Tears to Joy
    Sun Yu-Yin, a third-year high school student at Taichung Special Education School, has come a long way from a life of tears. After her parents, Sun Ming-Shan and Jiang Zhen-Yun, experienced panic and despair, they dedicated themselves to caring for their daughter, spending much of their time at early intervention centers and hospitals. Thanks to their efforts, Sun Yu-Yin finally learned to walk and speak simple words at the age of two.
 
    Sun Yuyin's parents express their deepest gratitude to Wang Jiaoqi, the founder of Crown Kindergarten in Dadu District, Taichung City, who reached out to offer support and helped Sun Yuyin take her first steps toward a joyful learning experience. During the six challenging years of elementary school, when her parents were exhausted, helpless, and in pain, Sun Yuyin won her first award for excellence in Taiwanese karaoke, bringing a glimmer of hope to the family.
 
    Sun Yuyin bid farewell to the shadow of discrimination she faced during her elementary school years in an inclusive education program. And enrolled in the resource class at Dao Dao Junior High School and Taichung Special Education School. Sun Yuyin, who is particularly considerate, thrived in her new environment, becoming a little helper to all her teachers and actively caring for other students who were more disadvantaged. She was awarded the Model Student Award and the Mayor's Award for Graduates at Dao Dao Junior High School and subsequently won multiple awards for painting, diverse performances, and musical performances, becoming a model student at Taichung Special Education School.
 
    Notably, under the guidance of Lin Qitong, a mentor who integrates music education with life education, she became a core musician in the Tang Baby Grand Orchestra, a charitable performance group. She has since obtained street performer licenses in six counties, including Hualien, Miaoli, Hsinchu, Nantou, Chiayi, and Changhua, embodying self-reliance and the ability to entertain others.
 
    On December 25, 2021, Sun Yu-Yin finally shared the stage with her childhood idol, the charitable singer-songwriter Zhan Ya-Wen, at the Taipei Arena to sing Christmas carols, inspiring over 10,000 people and touching hearts across all sectors of society.
 
    As a result, Sun Yu-yin expresses gratitude to her parents for their unwavering care, to all her teachers and the broader community for their support, to teachers Lin Qitong and Lian Guanjie, to the Tang Bao Daqi Orchestra for their guidance, and to charity singer-songwriter Zhan Yawen for her encouragement. These experiences have helped her find confidence and sow the seeds of hope. She will continue to spread smiles, truly deserving the title of “Smiling Tang Baby.” Among 2,954 candidates recommended from around the world for the “Global Love for Life Award,” she stood out and was honored with the “2022 25th Global Love for Life Award” by the Zhou Da Guan Cultural and Educational Foundation.
 
    Our foundation welcomes recommendations from all corners of the globe for individuals who embody effort, kindness, courage, and achievement as “life warriors.” (Taiwan Zhou Da Guan Cultural and Educational Foundation Global Award for Love of Life Recommendation Hotline: 02-29178770, Fax: 02-29178768, Address: 3rd Floor, No. 52 Mingde Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan, Website: http://www.ta.org.tw, e-mail: ta88ms17@gmail.com).
 
They are like one big family.
    When the medical report stated that their daughter had chromosomal abnormalities and was diagnosed with Down syndrome, Sun Yu-yin's parents had no idea what it meant. It wasn't until the medical staff bluntly said, “its Mongolian idiocy!” that they broke down in tears, feeling helpless and overwhelmed.
 
    Some say that individuals with Down syndrome are like a family because they share similar physical characteristics: flat faces, small eyes, slanted eyelids, wide-set eyes, flat noses, large tongues that protrude slightly, small ears that fold downward and sit below the eyelid line, short limbs, and webbed fingers with only two phalanges on the little fingers.
 
    In addition to these physical characteristics, individuals with Down syndrome have low muscle tone and poor joint stability, which affect motor development. They also exhibit varying degrees of intellectual disability and may have associated conditions such as heart disease and weakened immunity.
 
    As for the number of individuals with Down syndrome in Taiwan, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's big data, there are approximately 30,000 individuals with Down syndrome in Taiwan.
 
    In 2011, the United Nations designated March 21 as “World Down Syndrome Day” to encourage people around the world to view Down syndrome in a positive light. Down syndrome is caused by a mutation in the 21st pair of chromosomes, and there are many individuals with Down syndrome who have achieved remarkable accomplishments, proving that everyone has unique talents.
 
Early diagnosis and early intervention
    Sun Yuyin's mother, Jiang Zhenyun, stated, “The average IQ of typical children is 100, while the average IQ of children with Down syndrome, such as Sun Yuyin, ranges between 45 and 57, classified as moderate intellectual disability. Children with Down syndrome lack logical thinking abilities but possess strong imitation and memory skills. When educating such children, repeating tasks multiple times with patience and taking one step at a time will help them learn.”
 
    Take handwashing as an example. It is broken down into four steps: applying soap, rubbing hands, rinsing with water, and turning off the faucet. After memorizing these steps over time, they will perform them meticulously without any shortcuts.
 
    In other words, among all children with intellectual disabilities, those with Down syndrome are the most teachable and can learn perceptual movements, basic cognitive skills, self-care, and other abilities through “training.”
 
    Therefore, early diagnosis and early intervention are crucial for children with Down syndrome.
 
    While the saying “what happens at three sets you for life” may be overly simplistic, the physical rehabilitation and therapeutic approaches that stimulate children's reflexes and balance through play during the first three years of life do indeed have a significant positive impact on children with Down syndrome. Some children with Down syndrome may still struggle to walk steadily by the age of five or six, but Sun Yu-yin, who received early intervention, was able to take her first steps by the age of two and a half.
 
    A U.S. research report indicates that children with Down syndrome who receive early intervention have an average IQ that is approximately 17 points higher than those who do not receive treatment by the age of nine or ten. This improvement brings them closest to the level of mild intellectual disability, meaning they can manage all daily activities independently, and some can even learn to write scripts!
 
Angel parents make angelic children with Down syndrome.
    We divide the “environment” into social and family environments. However, whether it is the social or family environment, parents can begin teaching their children with Down syndrome from a young age—how to build relationships, communicate with others, and improve social skills.
 
    At the beginning, Sun Yuyin's parents served as a “bridge” for her, teaching her how to interact with others and guiding those around her on how to interact with Sun Yuyin. Gradually, Sun Yuyin's parents allowed her to interact naturally with others, at which point they stepped back from their “bridge” role.
 
    In terms of the social environment, how parents view their child with Down syndrome at home will influence how other family members, neighbors, and friends interact with and respond to the child.
 
    From Sun Yuyin's case, we can see that her parents often took her out hiking and taught her to actively greet neighbors and peers.
 
    When introducing Sun Yuyin to others, her parents did so with a casual attitude, just as they would with any other child, while also teaching her to greet others. This is the basic model for naturally interacting with the social environment.
 
    As children with Down syndrome grow older and their relationships with the external social environment become closer, parents of children with Down syndrome may consider increasing opportunities for their children to interact with people from various social strata through social visits with their own social circle.
 
    In terms of the family environment, we discovered from Sun Yuyin's successful case that the layout of the home, the furnishings, and the various items provided all had functional purposes, such as musical instruments, stationery, and sports equipment, which were all arranged appropriately. The parents' habits, daily interactions, interests, and leisure activities were also extremely warm and natural.
 
    In summary, Sun Yuyin was able to grow up accompanied by her angelic parents, which enabled her to become an angelic child with Down syndrome.
 
A Perfect Public Relations Example
    Sun Yuyin's parents, Sun Ming-shan and Jiang Zhen-yun, stated that they are not good at expressing themselves but are optimistic, content with their lot, and live a simple life. They never imagined that heaven would send them the angelic baby Sun Yuyin. They were initially overwhelmed and frightened by Sun Yuyin's physical condition, such as low muscle tone.
 
    an open ductus arteriosus in her heart and lungs, fearing they wouldn't be able to care for her properly even during a minor cold, fearing she might lose her life, and fearing they wouldn't be able to care for her.
 
    Fortunately, Dr. Zhan from the Pediatric Cardiology Department at Taichung Veterans General Hospital helped examine her and recommended heart surgery, which improved Sun Yuyin's heart condition, allowing her parents to stop worrying and fearing for her life.
 
    Subsequently, Sun Yuyin's parents actively arranged early intervention therapy sessions, accompanying her to class to gradually learn how to sit, crawl, stand, walk, and run. Though she progressed much slower than typical children, witnessing her growth was deeply moving.
 
    Later, when it came to language development, Sun Yuyin's parents used a trial-and-error approach. They would hold Sun Yuyin in their arms and talk to her constantly: “What do you see?” or sing nursery rhymes to her.
 
    To their surprise, Sun Yuyin gradually began to respond to the words they spoke and the nursery rhymes they sang. As she grew older, they arranged for her to attend speech therapy classes and found the results quite good. Sun Yuyin has an optimistic and kind nature, and every family member loves her dearly. Although she is a child with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, she is polite, innocent, and warm-hearted. She actively cares for those around her. For example, whenever her parents drive her home after any activity, she always says, “I had a very happy and fulfilling day today. Thank you for driving me to the activity. You must have worked hard!”
 
    Sun Yuyin is an angel who expresses gratitude. She always greets people with a smile whenever she sees them. Now, she has grown into a confident and outgoing member of the Sun family, unafraid of strangers and full of enthusiasm!
 
    Sun Yuyin's older brother, Sun Ruihong, is even more mature and independent. He understands that his parents have been worried about his younger sister, so he has been careful, diligent, and well-behaved throughout his upbringing and education. He has never caused any trouble for his parents. For university, he chose the Science and Engineering College of the National Defense University, which has eased their financial burden and brought them great comfort. Despite their parents' limitations, the siblings have not turned out badly. We truly thank heaven for this!
 
Grateful for the support of mentors along the way
    During her academic journey, Sun Yuyin has received care and support from many teachers and classmates. Sun Yuyin's mother still remembers when she was worried about where to send her daughter to school during her early childhood. At that time, Sun Yuyin's older brother was attending the Crown Kindergarten in Dadu District, Taichung, and the founder of the kindergarten, Principal Wang Jiaoqi, took the initiative to reach out to them. She said, "Bring her here!" We will take care of her." This kindness has stayed with them to this day, and they are deeply grateful to her.
 
    Sun Yuyin has always been a well-behaved child with Down syndrome. Although she attended a regular community elementary school and studied alongside typically developing peers, there were inevitable differences. While she learned at a slower pace than others, her attitude remained consistently positive. She dedicated significantly more time to her homework and assignments, completing them diligently. This commitment laid a solid foundation for her listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills during her elementary school years.
 
    When Sun Yuyin's parents first communicated with the school teachers and worked to have her accepted into the school, they felt immense pressure, exhaustion, helplessness, and pain. However, they eventually chose to persist in keeping her at the community elementary school, avoiding conflicts with the teachers. They endured all the hardships without causing any difficulties for the teachers.
 
    They believed in raising their own child well and tried not to trouble the teachers. On weekends, they took her for walks on trails to build her stamina. Once her physical condition improved, they challenged her to hike mountains. Each summit was a tough achievement, but it brought them a rare sense of accomplishment, overcoming difficulties and setbacks. Fortunately, she eventually completed the inclusive education program at the urban elementary school smoothly.
 
    During middle and high school, they helped Sun Yuyin choose a school within the special education system. Sun Yuyin thrived there, attending school happily. She actively helped teachers, cared for weaker classmates, and assisted teachers in filling out classroom logs and schedules. During middle and high school, she was the teachers' little helper, and Sun Yuyin was selected as the model student of her class. Upon graduating from junior high school, she was honored with the Mayor's Award for her outstanding performance at school!
 
    Now, in the blink of an eye, Sun Yuyin is already in her senior year of high school. Seeing her growth over the years, Sun Yuyin's parents have forgotten:
 
    The tears she shed during her infancy.
 
Singing with Charity Diva Zhan Yawen to Fulfill a Dream
    Sun Yuyin's closest friend since childhood has been the television, especially singing programs, which introduced her to many famous singers. Among them, she admires the charitable singer-songwriter Zhan Yawen the most.
 
    Charity songstress Ms. Zhan Yawen has many popular songs that Sun Yuyin can sing effortlessly, such as “This Year Will Be Better,” “I'll Beat You,” “Mother's Hands,” “Those Who Long for Home,” “The Path of Emotions,” “Deeply Affectionate Coast,” “The Road of Life,” and many more!
 
    Because of her love for singing, she has nurtured a dream in her heart: to one day perform on stage with her idol, the charitable singer Ms. Zhan Yawen! On December 25, 2021, Sun Yuyin had the incredible opportunity to make her dream come true—what a lucky girl!
 
    Sun Yuyin's interest in singing Taiwanese songs caught her parents' attention, who noticed her exceptional memory. She could recall the lyrics of her favorite Taiwanese songs with perfect clarity, leaving everyone in awe and admiration!
 
    When Sun Yuyin recalls her childhood, she remembers that every holiday, her parents would take her to her grandfather's house. Her grandfather was the best at encouraging her to sing karaoke and practice Taiwanese songs. Sun Yuyin felt incredibly blessed!
 
    Though her grandfather has been gone for over a year, Sun Yuyin still often misses him and talks to the sky, saying, “Grandpa, I'll take good care of your daughter.” This makes her parents feel both sad and comforted, and the entire family deeply misses those joyful moments of singing together as a family.
 
The “Happy Angel” Program Creates an Angel for a Down Syndrome Child
    When Sun Yuyin was in fourth grade, she began learning the ocarina (a type of flute) from Mr. Lin Qitong, a teacher from the “Happy and Kind-Hearted Savior” organization. As she grew more skilled, Mr. Lin encouraged her to join her seniors in taking the street performer certification exam. Fortunately, she passed the first time and obtained her certification in Hualien County.
 
    She remembers playing her favorite Taiwanese song, “A Mother's Hands,” by singer Zan, Ya-Wen on stage, always appearing relaxed and confident. She eventually earned six street performer licenses from six different counties through her own efforts. Sun Yu-Yin is now fortunate to be a core member of the Tang Bao Daqi Orchestra led by Lin Qitong. The orchestra has many opportunities to perform for charity.
 
    So every Monday is band practice, Tuesday is African drum lessons, and Saturday, her day off, and is when she takes her talent classes. In the morning, she takes digital wind instrument lessons at Mr. Lin Qitong's home, then attends dance classes to warm up her body, followed by painting lessons. For years, she has joyfully accepted and persevered in this routine, never complaining of tiredness, and eagerly anticipating the moments when she can perform on stage for charitable causes!
 
    When Sun Yuyin faces challenges in her studies, she often breaks down in tears. Her parents sometimes lose patience and tell her to give up. However, Sun Yuyin turns around and reassures them: “Mom and Dad, I can do it. I will try my best and overcome the challenges. I can continue learning from my teacher.” This makes her parents feel ashamed and reflect on why they didn't show more patience.
 
    Gradually, Sun Yuyin's parents also found that accompanying her in practicing her instrument helped them cultivate their own patience and discover that they had changed as well.
 
    To this day, every time I see Sun Yuyin and all the other children with Down syndrome perform on stage, I am filled with emotion. Sun Yuyin has also become more confident, her heart brimming with love. Lately, she often tells her mother, “Mommy, I love you the most.” You are my precious treasure.”
 
    Sun Yuyin has also started saying, “The teacher is her benefactor.” Sun Yuyin's mother playfully asks her, “Oh... is that a very expensive person?” Sun Yuyin bursts into laughter: “Mom, stop joking around! Of course they're someone who's good to me and very important to me!”
 
    They also feel that all the hardships and stress from the long journeys have been forgotten because of Sun Yuyin's current growth and performance. Sun Yuyin's stable temperament and achievements have filled them with gratitude. They thank the teachers for their great love and dedication, their family's companionship, and the help of their benefactors. Their hearts are filled with endless gratitude, and they hope that in the future, Sun Yuyin will be like an angel—planting more hope and spreading more smiles!
 

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