""Max was going to be a girl. Everything was all squared away. He showed up, and his 21st chromosome had tripled, he had heart issues and sleep apnea and some digestive tract problems, and I just shut down.""
""It was time to circle the wagons and everything else had to wait," he says. "Since then, he has has grown into this lovely, lovely, stubborn, very opinionated young man who absolutely loves his sisters.""
""It was a real focus to empower both of them, you know. Not put a wet blanket on Kate and Billy Grace being verbal, but still trying to empower Max to create as much language as he can," he says."
""I never wanted Max to be a burden to his two sisters. I wanted them to be the instigators or the initiators of activities done with their brother," McGinley explains."
John McGinley stepped back from acting after his son Max was born with Down syndrome and multiple health challenges, including a triplication of the 21st chromosome, heart issues (which later resolved), sleep apnea, and digestive problems. McGinley and his family adjusted to new care needs and later raised daughters Billie Grace and Kate, who are verbally advanced; Kate plans to graduate high school two years early. McGinley focused on empowering his verbal daughters while actively encouraging Max's language development, fostering sibling inclusion, and avoiding making Max a burden to his sisters.
Read at TODAY.com
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