Bachelorette vet Emily Maynard Johnson announces birth of her sixth child, a son with Down syndrome: ‘I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world’
- Maynard announced this week that she has given birth to a son named Jones
- The child has Down syndrome but she would not trade him for any baby
- ‘I wouldn’t change my life for anything. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world,’ she told People
- Down syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some degree of learning disability and certain physical characteristics
Former Bachelorette Emily Maynard Johnson announced this week that she has given birth to a son named Jones who has Down syndrome.
Emily, 36, became a mother for the sixth time on August 31 when she welcomed Jones with her husband Tyler Johnson.
The reality star said she ‘was in shock’ when she was told her son had the genetic condition, as well as a rare congenital colon abnormality, she told People.
‘Looking back on my life, a lot of things happened that I wouldn’t have planned,’ she said, but added: ‘I wouldn’t change my life for anything. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world.’
Baby mine: Former Bachelorette Emily Maynard Johnson announced this week that she has given birth to a son called Jones, who has Down syndrome
Emily shot to fame in 2011 on season 15 of The Bachelor, when she competed successfully for the affections of the dashing Texas bar owner Brad Womack.
At that point she already had her daughter Ricki, now 17, by her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick, a NASCAR driver who died in a plane crash while Emily was pregnant.
She and Brad broke up in 2011 and she subsequently became The Bachelorette, selecting Jef Holm at the end of her season.
Emily and Jef broke up in 2012 and two years later she tied the knot with Tyler at his family’s picturesque farm in South Carolina.
After getting married, Tyler and Emily quickly welcomed four children – Jennings, seven, Gibson, six, Gaitlin, four, and Nola, two – before Jones.
While she was pregnant with Nola, Emily was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which she previously had in high school.
Emily was thunderstruck after Jones was born when she was informed of his medical issues, which had not been ‘on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it. I just wanted to hold him and for everything to be okay.’
Jones had to have surgery and spend a month in neonatal intensive care – a wallop his mother described as ‘devastating.’
Full of love: After ‘sweet and smiley’ Jones came home from the hospital, Emily found him to be ‘the easiest baby and he’s just been our biggest blessing’
Family matters: Tyler and Emily have five children – Jennings, seven, Gibson, six, Gaitlin, four, Nola, two, and Jones, two months – and Emily also has a daughter called Ricki, 17
She shared: ‘I was just grieving all of it and that the experience was so different from what I had expected.
‘Waking up the next morning hearing all the babies crying down the hallway while I was in the room alone, it hurt so much.’
Ricki was ‘my best buddy through everything. When I was in the hospital she sent me 47 roses to represent Jones’ 47 chromosomes.’
After ‘sweet and smiley’ Jones came home from the hospital, Emily found him to be ‘the easiest baby and he’s just been our biggest blessing.’
What is Down’s Syndrome
Down’s syndrome is a genetic condition that typically causes some degree of learning disability and certain physical characteristics.
Symptoms include:
- Floppiness at birth
- Eyes that slant down and out
- A small mouth
- A flat back of head
Screening tests can uncover Down’s syndrome during pregnancy but are not completely accurate.
It is caused by an extra chromosome in a baby’s cell due to a genetic change in the sperm or egg.
The chance of this increases according to the age of the mother.
A 20-year-old woman has around a one in 1,500 chance of having a baby with Down’s syndrome.
Women in their 40s have a one in 100 chance.
There is no evidence women can reduce their chances of having a child with Down’s syndrome.
Down’s syndrome does not have a cure.
Treatment focuses on supporting the patient’s development.
People with Down’s syndrome have more chance of health complications such as heart disorders, hearing problems, thyroid issues and recurrent infections.
Source: NHS Choices
Throwback: Emily shot to fame in 2011 on season 15 of The Bachelor, when she competed successfully for the affections of the dashing Texas bar owner Brad Womack
She acknowledged: ‘I’m still learning about Down syndrome, but I’m trying to also just experience Jones as Jones and not as different than any of the other kids.’
Emily reflected: ‘I am so grateful. But I’m still on my journey of processing everything. And I have to trust that it will all turn out alright.’
Taking the news to her Instagram page, she wrote: ‘SURPRISE! On August 31st, Tyler and I welcomed our sweet son, Jones West Johnson, into the world.’
Looking for love: She and Brad broke up in 2011 and she subsequently became The Bachelorette, selecting Jef Holm at the end of her season
She declared: ‘During my surgery we learned that he was born with Down Syndrome, and while it was certainly a surprise, we have so much peace in God’s perfect plan and know Jones is going to be a blessing to our family.’
Emily explained: ‘He was in the NICU for a little over a month and is thankfully now home in all the chaos and we couldn’t love him more.’
She expressed her gratitude to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina ‘for all that you did for our family. Im so happy to finally share the news and can share all the pictures with you guys! He’s absolutely the cherry on top!’
Love of her life: Emily and Jef broke up in 2012 and two years later she tied the knot with Tyler at his family’s picturesque farm in South Carolina
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