Hope Davis, 3, is one of 500 faces chosen for a slideshow compiled by the National Down Syndrome Society to be beamed in Times Square.PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — An adorable Palos Heights preschooler named Hope Davis will soon shine in the bright lights of Times Square.Hope Davis, 3, daughter of Dan and Bridget Davis, is part of the annual National Down Syndrome Society video that will appear in Times Square on Sept. 6.The collective images in the video highlight individuals with Down syndrome in a highly visible way on ...
Hope Davis, 3, is one of 500 faces chosen for a slideshow compiled by the National Down Syndrome Society to be beamed in Times Square.
PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — An adorable Palos Heights preschooler named Hope Davis will soon shine in the bright lights of Times Square.
Hope Davis, 3, daughter of Dan and Bridget Davis, is part of the annual National Down Syndrome Society video that will appear in Times Square on Sept. 6.
The collective images in the video highlight individuals with Down syndrome in a highly visible way on two screens in the heart of Times Square.
Hope was selected from more than 2,600 entries in the NDSS worldwide. Born in 2022 with multiple congenital heart defects. She had open-heart surgery later that year in an attempt to repair the defects. Miraculously, the pediatric cardiac surgeons at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn were able to do the full repair.
This is the photo of Hope that will appear in the NDSS slide show in NYC.
Since then, Hope has been hospitalized over ten times for other illnesses, but she remains the happiest, most joyful child, her mother, Bridget told Patch.
“It's cliché, but she truly makes everyone around her happier, and it's impossible to not smile and laugh with her,” her mom added.
The one-hour video of 500+ photographs includes children, teens, and adults with Down syndrome from all 50 states and 11 countries. Hope’s picture was selected from thousands of pictures.
The Times Square Video Presentation kicks off the New York City Buddy Walk, which takes place at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. This flagship Buddy Walk has taken place in New York City since 1995 as part of the National Buddy Walk Program. Over 150 Buddy Walk events are held in communities across the country and select international locations. For more information about the New York City Buddy Walk on Sept. 6 or the National Buddy Walk Program, visit NDSS.
The slideshow can be viewed live this Saturday on the NDSS Facebook page.
Hope’s father, Dan Davis, is an Alsip firefighter. She is the kid sister of Danny, 8, and Grace, 6, who cheer Hope on and make her feel loved every day. Hope attends preschool at Palos West Elementary School.
“We want everyone to know that having Down syndrome can make some things more challenging, but that having down syndrome is not a disease, and it's not something to be afraid of, and that instead, it's truly a miracle and a blessing,” Bridget said.