Rory Feek doesn't feel burdened by his daughter. He embraces her differences.
Indiana has Down syndrome. And Rory remains adamant she was God's gift to him and his wife, Joey.
Joey died in March after a battle with colon and cervical cancer.
PREVIOUS | Joey Feek passes away after battle with cancer
In a blog post Tuesday, Rory discussed the reaction friends and family had to the news that their baby has Down syndrome:
"And almost everyone said the same thing. “I’m so sorry”. That’s such a strange response to the birth of a child. Maybe they were just sensing the confusion in my voice or more likely, they didn’t know what to say. I didn’t and don’t think anything negative about their responses. I probably would’ve said the same thing in their shoes. It’s what society has told told them – told all of us… …awe, you didn’t get a regular baby… you got something less… a burden that will last a lifetime. And I get it it. That’s the messaging that is out there most I think. But it’s wrong. At least I think it is. And I know Joey did too."
He also wrote about the fact that "different is not less," saying that all children grow up at their own pace.
"Some learn faster, some slower. Some are silent and some vocal. Some crawl and walk earlier than others and some, like Indy…take their time. But they are all beautiful. All gifts from heaven above."
In 2009, ABC News reported that 92 percent of all women who learn their child will have Down syndrome chose to terminate the pregnancy.
Joey and Rory heard similar statistics throughout the past couple of years.
I get it though. The world has told us that they are less. A mistake. But I don’t believe they are. At least I know Indiana’s not. When she was born, Joey and I said, ‘this is the child God wants us to have’, and we believed it. And we were right. I can not imagine Joey not having those two years to be a mama to Indiana and get to experience the love and happiness that Indy brought to her. God knew that. He made it so.
MORE | Check out Rory's full blog post here
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This month, a documentary about Joey and Rory's relationship is being released. It's playing in select theaters on one day only -- Sept. 20, 2016. For ticket information,click here.
