Gene Stallings Discusses His Down Syndrome Son

If you have 20 minutes and are in need of a good cry, click here to listen to this recent Focus on the Family broadcast (I listened to this while trying to eat lunch and choked on my food multiple times!). The featured guest is former coach Gene Stallings, and he shares his deep love for his son Johnny who recently passed away at the age of 46. Gene served as the head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide, the Texas A&M Aggies and the St. Louis Cardinals. Stallings was also an assistant coach for the Dallas Cowboys for 14 seasons. But his biggest and proudest accomplishment was his son Johnny who was born with Down syndrome. His love for Johnny is so obvious in his voice when he talks about him - it is a wonderful encouragement to parents like my wife and I who are just starting on this journey of raising a child with Down syndrome.

If you don't have time to listen to the broadcast, here's one of my favorite quotes from it (paraphrased): "If the Lord took me back and gave me the option of having either Johnny or a normal healthy child, I would choose Johnny every single time."

Comments

[Yaehoo]

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[Yaehoo]

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[Dalia Camarillo]

God Bless You! Blessed be the name of the Lord! God has His plans for you and Erin and Liam. We might not know why things happen but He does. That Liam bring you alot of happiness and joy and blessings.

Blessings,
Dalia

[Ellen]

Well, I certainly can't say that you didn't warn me, but I listened while getting ready for work and it was really hard to do my eye make-up! Thanks for sharing the link to this. I continue to pray for you and Erin and Liam!

[Brian Baute]

My 3-year old son was also born with Down Syndrome. It's a great journey, and kids like ours who are born now have so many advantages over those with Down Syndrome born even 10 years ago. They'll be part of redefining what Down Syndrome is.

[claudie brown]

thank god for parents like Coach stallings. he was right about special needs children being given to special parents. i have a downs patient, whose 86 year old mother visits him everyday in the nursing home and his siblings visit on the weekends. his name is also Johnny. his mom cared for him at home, until the last few years, when she could no longer physically care for him. Liam is a gift to you and Erin and the best is yet to come. he will delight and surprise you every day. your family is always in our prayers.