In every cell in the human body there is a nucleus, where genetic material is stored in genes. Genes carry the codes responsible for all of our inherited traits and are grouped along rod-like structures called chromosomes. Typically, the nucleus of each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, half of which are inherited from each parent. Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.
This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes and a single deep crease across the center of the palm—although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
In the Philippines one baby with Down syndrome is born every four hours, which makes roughly 1,875 Down infants born every year in a country with 1.5 million live births per year. That is a relatively small percentage of our population. but that does little to ease the burden of these children’s parents.
All children with Down syndrome have some degree of learning disability and delayed development, but this varies widely between individual children. Children with Down may be slower to learn skills like sitting, standing, walking and talking. They will develop these skills eventually, it just takes more time.
In my experience, children with Down syndrome are generally shy and introverted but that changed when I met Jeremy.
Jeremy is the son of Elmer and Agnes Lorenzana Lapena. Now, 22 years of age, Jeremy must be the most sociable, best adjusted person with Down syndrome that I have ever met. And he has a burning passion for golf.
I had the pleasure of playing a round of golf with Jeremy, his dad Elmer and our good friend Luis Harder recently at Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club, one of Jeremy’s home clubs. Few people with his condition are as confident and as social as he.
Watching him interact with the staff of Tagaytay Midlands was an eye opener; Jeremy is a celebrity there. He wanders around unaccompanied and spends time with everyone that takes time to greet him. He’s completely engaging and has a wicked sense of humor. Everyone at the club knows and loves him and looks after him.
Jeremy loves his golf. I first met him at the Tee up for Down golf tournament, which is organized by dad Elmer and Luis Harder for the benefit of the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines. Jeremy was the tournament poster boy and its star.
His game was a tad off when we played but that didn’t dampen his spirits. He took it upon himself to chauffeur me around Tagaytay Midlands that day, in fact, he never let me drive the golf cart. He was quick to joke with the caddies and always stopped for me when I walked off to my next shot.
Elmer and Agnes have done a marvelous job with Jeremy, but his environment plays a huge role in his development and I think it is obvious that he’s developed much of his confidence and social skills on the golf course.
Golf is a wonderful game run by some of the best people. The game’s core values infect everyone around it and that, in turn, positively affects the people around them. Growing up in a community that cares about him and looks after him has done wonders for Jeremy. The golf community has rallied around the Tee it up for Down golf tournament and has generously supported it for the past 15 years.
I wish we could be as generous with others that have needs like Jeremy’s. There is little doubt that golf could affect them in the same positive manner as it has the younger Lapena. Perhaps, now is the time for golfers to give back in other ways besides providing financial support. It seems feasible to create programs for differently abled individuals so that they can share the game we love and learn its core values.
It would be a scenario where everybody wins.
Image credits: Elmer Lapena , Mike Besa