Morris named COTR Special Child

Demopolis, Ala. - 12-2-2015 - COTR 2015 Special Child Jada Morris pulls the switch to light the Love Light Tree at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.
Demopolis, Ala. – 12-2-2015 – COTR 2015 Special Child Jada Morris pulls the switch to light the Love Light Tree at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.

Adrienne Fancher is the mother of this year’s Christmas on the River, Special Child, Jada Morris. Jada has Down’s Syndrome, a condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of the chromosome 21 resulting in learning difficulties and physical differences.

Jada Morris, the daughter of Adrienne Fancher and Joe Morris, is this year's COTR Special Child. She will light the 26th annual Love Lights Christmas Tree on the front lawn of Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Contributed Photo)
Jada Morris, the daughter of Adrienne Fancher and Joe Morris, is this year’s COTR Special Child. She will light the 26th annual Love Lights Christmas Tree on the front lawn of Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Contributed Photo)

When asked to write about Jada, Adrienne shared the following:

“Jada has Downs Syndrome, but that does not define who she is. She is sweet and caring. I can be having the worst day and when I get around her– everything is better. Her hugs and kisses always make the day a little brighter. She doesn’t see age or race; everyone is the same to her and that’s how it should be. We are truly blessed to have her in our life.

There is a poem titled “A Trip to Holland” by Emily P Kingsley and it describes how it is having a special needs child. In the poem she talks about her pregnancy and how excited she was–but she referred to it as a trip. She was excited about a trip to Italy, but the plans changed and she ended up in Holland instead. Holland wasn’t as flashy or as fast paced but after a while that became okay. She realized that Holland is just as pretty as Italy if you just take the time to look around.

I’m so thankful that I too ended up in Holland. I wouldn’t want to be any other place with anyone else. I used to expect both Jada and her twin to reach milestones at the same time, but then I realized that no two children are the same and that she will do it when it’s time.

She has taught our entire family about patience, love, and forgiving. We wouldn’t change her for the world but we would change the world for her. We never asked for this but we sure thank God that he chose our family.”

Jada is the daughter of Adrienne Fancher and Joe Morris and is in the second grade at Westside Elementary School. Her teachers are Mrs. Kennedy and Mrs. Malone. She has a twin brother Jason, and an older brother Jayden. When you see Jada in the Children’s Parade for Christmas on the River, be sure to wave–as she is “the” most Special Child of Christmas on the River this year.

Demopolis, Ala. - 12-2-2015 - Linde McAdams introduces the special child for COTR 2015 at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.
Demopolis, Ala. – 12-2-2015 – Linde McAdams introduces the special child for COTR 2015 at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital.