Elle

"I wish I had known what to really worry about. Most of the time my anxiety wasn't necessary. I just needed to accept and enjoy a little bit more, because it all ended up working out anyway."

Nicki describes raising her 8 year-old daughter Elle, whose Down syndrome was diagnosed at 18 weeks gestation. “Her doctors predicted she would not survive to a live birth and prepared us for miscarriage every week at the appointments. We were fortunate to have had a supportive medical team and were not pressured—like many who have a prenatal diagnosis—to terminate the pregnancy. Elle was born 4 weeks early and surprised everyone with her fighting spirit.“

The budding guitar player—her favorite instrument to play along to the tv—is now active in numerous hobbies, including skiing, swimming, diving, dancing, cheerleading, and tennis. Elle loves playing with her dolls at home, watching “Toy Story” and “Fancy Nancy,” and playing doctor. When not busy “cooking” in her play kitchen, the young athlete helps her father, a trained chef, crack eggs and mix batter. He’s also a helicopter pilot, so Elle has helped maintain the helicopter as well as enjoy rides around the family’s home state of Florida.

Her mother Nicki is a local photographer (@nhrphotography) who uses photography to advocate for Elle and other children with Down syndrome in the Tampa Bay Area. Because of this, Elle is no stranger to the camera. Her lively and outgoing personality is immediately clear upon meeting her. We’re overjoyed we get to be your friend, Elle!