Down syndrome affects more than 350,000 Americans, impacting one in every 733 births, including a son of Gary Cosby Jr. and wife Patty. Reece changed their
lives and opened their eyes to the potential and to the challenges of a life lived with the genetic disorder.
Reece’s life inspired his father, a Decatur Daily photojournalist, to start working on a series of stories on Down syndrome. Three months into the effort, Reece died unexpectedly Sept. 27, 2009. He was 2 years old. The stories he inspired were completed six months later as a tribute to his life. This series focuses on the challenges and rewards for these special people, and their families, as they take their place in what we call normal society.