Each day, thousands of babies enter the world with unique characteristics that set them apart. While all babies are inherently beautiful and deserving of love and care, regrettably, not everyone embraces this truth. In some disheartening cases, parents consider disowning or giving up their children if they don’t meet their preconceived notions of perfection at birth.
Even in today’s era of enlightenment and rationality, babies born with Down syndrome continue to face uncertainty due to persistent prejudices surrounding the condition. One Russian father, Evgeny Anisimov, is on a mission to dispel the stigma associated with Down syndrome while independently raising his son, Misha, who has the condition.
Evgeny, 33 years old, is determined to demonstrate to the world that children with Down syndrome are just as worthy of love and acceptance. He has taken on the role of the sole caregiver after his wife left because she couldn’t cope with their son’s diagnosis.
The moment they received the diagnosis, just one minute and 39 seconds after Misha’s birth, a doctor conveyed the news, saying, “I fear that your baby has Down Syndrome.”
In an interview with Bored Panda, Evgeny revealed: “I didn’t know how to react when I heard the possibility that my son had Down Syndrome. I believed my duty was to suppress emotions, engage my intellect, and support my wife, as I thought it would be more challenging for her.”
He went on: “I left the hospital and cried upon learning about my son’s Down Syndrome, though not for long. Later, I felt somewhat embarrassed by my tears. After all, nothing had fundamentally changed in my life. I still had both my arms and legs, my professional knowledge remained intact, and my determination, drive, curiosity, and everything else were with me.
Everything went according to my plans, my son was born. But he’s a special child; his life and future are profoundly significant. And here I am crying! It’s a form of selfishness! It’s not fair, is it? No, it’s my responsibility. We didn’t undergo amniocentesis—obviously, the probability was low, but still. We wanted a child, so we took responsibility for it. After all, there are numerous possibilities: autism, cerebral palsy, genetic mutations … And Down Syndrome is not the worst, as I later learned.”
That very night, Evgeny embarked on a mission to educate himself about Down syndrome. “I learned that in Europe, people with Down Syndrome are well-integrated, capable of living and working independently,” he explained. “But my decision to keep my son was not influenced by that.”
Leaving his son was never a consideration for the new father, though his wife did not share the same sentiment. “At no point did I think of leaving my son in an orphanage; that would be inhumane,” he stated. Eventually, he and his wife parted ways, and now Evgeny raises Misha on his own.
He emphasized, “When a child is born, he poses a question to the outside world: ‘Am I needed here or not?’ And I answer with absolute certainty: ‘Son, you are needed!’ Being with him, even on my own, is an ordinary action for an ordinary man. I want to stress that I am an ordinary man, not some kind of hero.”
Evgeny’s goal is to raise awareness about Down syndrome, ensuring that no future parent regards having a child with the condition as a punishment or insurmountable obstacle. He shared with Bored Panda: “I hope that those who are facing difficulties now, as we once did, read about us. Do not be afraid! Everything will be fine!”
In my opinion, individuals like Evgeny should be celebrated and admired for their unwavering determination. He serves as an inspirational figure, and Misha is undoubtedly fortunate to have him as a father.
