Page 56 - ABILITY Magazine - Avril Lavigne Issue

Karl and brother Marcus at Midmar Mile
s a child with Down syndrome, my son,
the United Arab Emirates.
Karl, was sickly. On a number of occasions Aour family was told that it was unlikely he
Karl is thrilled to have been selected to represent South Africa in the Special Olympics (SO) World Games in Los Angeles. He and I will travel there, where he intends to demonstrate that he has the skills to be ranked among the very best of the world’s swimmers! He also has a secret ambition to meet World Wrestling Entertainment star John Cena.
would survive. He underwent numerous
operations, including open-heart surgery. Then, at age 6, his health turned around, and he has not looked back since.
Now 27, Karl has a full-time job that he loves at a retirement home. He lives with his mom, Ria, and me, along with brother Marcus, 25, in a suburb of Durban, South Africa. Our daughter Lisa, 29, lives and works in
As a popular member of the Seagulls Swimming Club here in Durban, Karl trains five days a week, and has
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