She has Down syndrome and used to go on adventures with her mom — until the pandemic
Tonya Morrison was reluctant to have a child, but when her daughter Taylor Quinones was born, she realized her daughter was the greatest gift she could ask for.
“I don’t know what I’d do without her, she’s everything to me,” Morrison says, sitting at the kitchen table in their cozy Pompano Beach apartment. “We’ve met some of the most wonderful people because of Taylor, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Quinones, who is 29 and has Down syndrome, displays an infectious enjoyment of life. She loves painting paper-towel and toilet-paper rolls in colorful, rainbow-like patterns. She has a remarkable memory; name a day of the year and she can instantly name a celebrity born on that date.
Nominated for the Miami Herald’s Wish Book program, Quinones yearns for a trip to swim with the dolphins in Key Largo for Christmas and her mother, unemployed since July 2020, hopes for help with household bills.
Glued to her mother’s hip as a child, Quinones earned the nickname of “Shadow.” She is quick to help with chores around the house. The inseparable duo loved going on adventures together until COVID-19 forced them to stay indoors.
Before the pandemic turned their world upside down, the pair would attend concerts, take trips to the park and go to sporting events, especially to see Quinones’ beloved Florida Panthers and her favorite player, Jaromír Jágr, who starred for the hockey team from 2015 to 2017.
“My brother and his girlfriend bought her a Panthers jersey when she was little, and bought it big enough to last her from 8 years old until not that long ago, when we got her a bigger one,” says Morrison, as Quinones runs from her room to show off her Jágr jersey. “We collected birthday money and came together to buy her a new one.”
Because of COVID and their financial situation, the two haven’t been able to attend any Panthers games or do much of anything else for the last 18 months.
“When we were told to stay home at the start ... we did,” Morrison says.
The stress of the pandemic affected Quinones’ mental health. She developed a fear of snakes she believed were in the apartment, causing her to cry uncontrollably. A psychiatrist diagnosed her with schizophrenia, and she now takes medications to help deal with that.
Quinones’ health often requires multiple doctors appointments each month. Morrison takes her daughter wherever she needs to go.
Morrison lost her job after 44 years in the insurance industry because of the pandemic and has been caring for her daughter ever since. But with no job, her financial situation is dire.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Morrison received unemployment and had money from a car-crash settlement to help pay expenses. But when her unemployment payments stopped, she quickly found herself running out of funds.
Quinones’ adult program at ARC Broward, where she socializes and learns life skills, shut down during the pandemic and recently reopened. But she’s developed a crippling fear that she might catch COVID, which has kept her from going back. That means Morrison must stay home to watch her.
“I’m down to my last bit of money,” says Morrison. “I hate to admit that, but it’s really difficult right now.”
Jeannie DeMarzo of the Danielle DeMarzo Foundation nominated Morrison and Quinones for Wish Book. The foundation was created to support and provide resources for families who have children with special needs or growth-related disorders.
She says they are two of the best people she’s ever met.
“I’ve known the family for a number of years, and they are just a great family,” says DeMarzo. “No matter what it is, whenever they receive any help, they’re always so appreciative and they are just wonderful people.”
It will cost $760 to go to Key Largo to swim and paint with dolphins, and Morrison hopes for financial assistance to help pay bills and living expenses.
“It would mean the world to me,” Morrison says. “It’s been a really difficult time.”
How to help
To help this nominee and 150 others who are in need this year:
▪ To donate, use the coupon found in the newspaper or pay securely online through www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook
▪ For more information, call 305-376-2906 or emailWishbook@MiamiHerald.com
▪ The most requested items are often laptops and tablets for school, furniture, and accessible vans
▪ Read all Wish Book stories on www.MiamiHerald.com/wishbook
This story was produced in conjunction with FIU’s South Florida Media Network
This story was originally published December 12, 2021 at 6:30 AM.