We all face challenges that feel insurmountable, personal mountains we must climb. But imagine confronting an entire Himalayan range, a constant succession of obstacles. This is the reality for many children with disabilities, and the story of one remarkable little girl, Stella Leblanc-Beaudoin, beautifully illustrates this truth.
I first wrote about Stella a couple of years ago when she was seven, a bright spirit navigating life with Down syndrome. Then, she conquered a daunting rock wall at Variety Village, a victory hard-won after numerous attempts. Now nine, Stella continues to scale new heights, always with her little brother, Leo, a witty six-year-old, by her side.
Her mother, Christina Guzzo, a scientist, shared Stella’s secret to overcoming fear. “Stella, what do you do when you’re nervous?” Christina asked. Leo, ever the playful one, chimed in with, “Panic! Run around, run around!” But Stella’s response was simple, profound: “Be brave.” And then, she added, “Be proud.” A powerful mantra for anyone facing adversity.
Stella’s bravery isn’t just a phrase; it’s a lived experience. She’s faced multiple surgeries, including a life-saving open-heart procedure, and navigates a world that doesn’t always offer kindness. “As she gets older, she understands she’s different,” Christina explained. “She recognizes when people underestimate her, when they doubt what she can achieve.”
Those doubters would have been stunned to see Stella at Sick Kids last month. She walked into the operating room with an astonishing confidence, announcing in her distinct little voice, “I’m checking in for the night. Excited to be here. Room service!” The anesthesiologist, momentarily bewildered, asked if she’d already received medication. “Nope,” Christina replied, smiling. “That’s just Stella.”
The surgery removed her adenoid glands and nasal tissue to improve her breathing, a common concern for children with Down syndrome. Afterward, true to form, Stella requested everything on the menu containing chocolate. “She does this with every surgery,” Christina marveled. Another operation, a tear duct procedure to address recurring infections, is already planned.
Some children, like Stella, simply face more challenges than others. But her struggles aren’t limited to medical hurdles. Everyday tasks can also present significant obstacles. At Variety Village, Stella found a place where these obstacles became opportunities.
A frightening incident at a lakeside cottage, where Stella fell face-first into shallow water and couldn’t right herself, prompted her parents, including her father, a paramedic, to enroll her in swim lessons at Variety Village. There, instructors recognized her courage and suggested she join the synchro swim team. Now, she’s a provincial medalist, preparing for a duet performance at the annual Christmas show.
The most nerve-wracking part? The initial dive. “I have to be brave,” she says, echoing her own powerful mantra. But bravery isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s about tackling the quiet battles, like learning to read. For a child with Down syndrome, reading can be particularly difficult. While Leo attends taekwondo classes, Stella works with a reading tutor.
Her favorite book is “Stella the Superhero,” a customized story where the main character, who shares Stella’s glasses and love of purple, rescues cats, fixes tires, and saves lives. “I feel like I’m in this book,” Stella declared. Her mother observes, “I keep seeing her face challenges that seem impossible, and she overcomes them. She’s proving what’s possible, again and again.”
Leo, with the unwavering loyalty of a little brother, simply wants the world to be easier for Stella. “I want my sister to be able to do everything. Everything! I wish she could run so, so fast and jump so, so high.”
At Variety Village, Stella finds a community that believes in her potential. Her mother says, “Everyone here has faith in her. This place recognizes and gives us glimpses into what she can achieve.” It’s a place where possibility isn’t just a word; it’s a promise.
