Ashlyn and Jake Burger discuss joys and challenges of raising child with Down syndrome
Jake Burger is using his platform to share the joys and challenges of raising a baby girl with Down syndrome.
The 28-year-old MLB player welcomed his second child with wife Ashlyn Burger on Oct. 25, just a few weeks before being traded from the Miami Marlins to the Texas Rangers.
The couple learned of their daughter Penelope’s down syndrome diagnosis earlier in the pregnancy and have taken it upon themselves to make it their purpose in life to help others through similar outcomes.
“It’s been so special. I don’t even know the right words to describe it,” Ashlyn Burger said in a recent interview with People, published March 21.
“I think we both probably feel like we’ve been really honored with this task, that we were chosen for this,” she continued.
With her husband being the only active MLB player to have a child with Down syndrome, the Burgers felt it was their duty to go public with their experience.
“We wanted to share our story, and share it on such a public stage because we want people that don’t live their life on a public stage to also be proud of their child,” Ashlyn Burger explains of their decision, according to People.
She recalled how “daunting” and “scary” the diagnosis was, but says she and her husband have since learned to make the most of it.
“I feel like we’ve just been really honored and humbled that we were the chosen ones,” Ashlyn Burger added, according to People. “And so I think … it was no coincidence that God chose us to be that representative.”
Despite having a “really easy” experience thus far, Ashlyn Burger told People that it does get challenging.
And one of those challenges came during a recent trip to the grocery store when someone she was standing next to used an ableist slur.
While she knew the comment wasn’t directed at her daughter, she couldn’t help but grow emotional at how the word was being used.
“This person was using this word to describe something that was broken, dumb, wasn’t working right,” she explained to People.
“That’s not who my daughter is,” Ashlyn Burger continues. “That’s not who anyone with Down syndrome is. They’re not broken, they’re not dumb, they’re not any of those things.”
She describes moments like those as the “hardest thing” about raising a kid with Down syndrome, but takes comfort in knowing that her daughter will grow up surrounded by a loving and protective family, People reported.
And their 2-year-old son, Brooks, is already playing the part.
“He wants to do everything with her and make sure she is always right there next to him when he is playing with whatever toy,” Ashlyn Burger told People of the bond her son has with her daughter.
“I think just him being so sweet to her made it a really easy transition,” she continues. “And she’s a really great baby, too.”
In an effort to use her husband’s platform for good, the couple founded the Burger Family Foundation to financially assist families caring for children and adults with disabilities.
The foundation is already in the process of rolling out two initiatives: Pen’s Pearls (direct financial support to families) and the Lucky Ranch (a therapeutic ranch for individuals with disabilities and their families).
The family is also using Jake Burger’s fresh start with a new team to help spread awareness about the condition.
After the trade, Jake Burger contacted his new teammate that wore jersey number 21 and asked if he’d be willing to give it up for a good cause, according to People.
His teammate agreed without hesitation and Jake Burger inherited the number.
The scientific name for down syndrome is trisomy 21, referring to the extra copy of chromosome 21 that these individuals are born with.
“He wanted the families that have children or a family member with Down syndrome to see that number and know that they’re represented,” Ashlyn Burger explained to People.
“He also wanted all of those who have Down syndrome to know that he’s wearing that number because he’s really proud of his daughter and who she is and who they are,” she added.
MLB’s Spring Training began on Feb. 20. Burger has played in 20 games, as of March 23, and has a batting average of .226 with two home runs and eight runs batted in during that span.
Opening Day will take place on March 27 vs. the Boston Red Sox, when Jake Burger makes his official home debut with the Rangers — wearing his coveted No. 21.
As for his daughter, Ashlyn Burger hopes to foster an environment filled with love — and pride.
“I’m very proud of who she is. And I want her to grow up to be very proud of who she is,” she told People.
