By: Ethan on 3/17/10
Wow, this is one awesome news! Cheers to Junior for bringing hope! Double cheers to Pat Foley for standing up for Junior! Spread the love!

Guys, for more information about Down Syndrome, I found this really cool Childwiki article: http://www.childwiki.com/index.php/Living_with_Down_syndrome

By: Townie on 1/2/09
It seems to me that "Steve" is not your real name. If I made comments like that I would hide my identity too.

By: edk on 1/2/09
I think Steveh just said that to get attention, why else would anyone say things like that? He must be a very lonely, unhappy person. I would just ignore his comments, just a plea for attention.

By: JimT on 1/1/09
Good job Junior! Haven't seen you since I moved out of Waseca in the 1960's and glad to see your name and being honored in the newspaper.

By: scm on 1/1/09
Steveh, obviously you haven't had the opportunity to have a special needs person a part of your life. Having had an in-law with Downes Syndrome a part of my family for 25 years, I have experienced first-hand the love and spontaneous joy that they bring to others' lives. I'm certain that if I read an article about your accomplishments to my relative, he/she would most certainly have had something nice to say!

Way to go Junior! You are a blessing to all who know you!!

By: Beenthere on 1/1/09
Steve, I think this is amazing! Maybe you could take a minute and step outside your safety zone, stop in and visit Junior, or if that makes you really uncomfortable try the nursing home, you might find your world in Waseca not so boring! It is what you make of it.

We need more Pat Foley's in the world!

By: AstroComfy on 12/31/08
Thanks needtoknow, and 4ds, also a very good point, his age is remarkable for ANYONE! :) Kudos to Holbrook for a long life filled with love and experiences.

By: needtoknow on 12/31/08
Well spoken, AstroComfy.

By: 4ds on 12/31/08
The average life expectancy in the United States, for a healthy, able mind and bodied person, is approximately 76 years.

By: AstroComfy on 12/31/08
"He was born ...in a time when people with Down syndrome lived to an average age of nine years, institutions were the norm and medical care was minimal, according to experts."

Steve, I know this doesn't matter to a lot of people, but to persons with disabilities, and those of us who have devoted our lives to working with people with disabilities, this is an amazing, wonderful story. Whether he is a man with Downs Syndrome, or any other kind of disability, people who are disabled reaching his age is very rare, even today. Many disabilities coincide with other health issues that a person has to work through in their lives. We lose so many we love too soon in most cases.

Most of all, I'm glad you're publicly sharing your attitudes just so others can be aware that they exist and be wary of them. If all of us acted and spoke so negatively, the world would be a very grim place, indeed.

By: needtoknow on 12/31/08
Steveh, I don't think you understand the significance of Jr.s longevity and it certainly isn't boring. It is a celebration.

By: 4ds on 12/31/08
Steveh, I think we are looking at this as a celebration of both longevity and diversity; defying medical statistics, that's where the d.s. comes in and it is in fact noteworthy.

By: edk on 12/31/08
Waseca has always been a town of people with warm, caring hearts. I think this is a real contributing factor to why Junior thrived, when others with his condition did not.

By: steveh on 12/31/08
wow, this shows how boring waseca is

who cares if he has d.s., there are plenty of 80 year olds out there

By: onevoice on 12/31/08
Congratulations Jr.! You are now in the Guiness Book of World Records!!:)
Pat Foley, your dedication to this is to be commended.