With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we wanted to
talk about one of the amazing couples we know through our organization, and
crazily enough, who met because of First Downs and the Down Syndrome Guild!
This prom King and Queen, Chris and Carissa, are in fact dating!
This is them.
Fairy tale couple right?
The beginning of their journey together reads like it’s right
out of a storybook. Their first encounter was at our wine auction in 2012. Both
of them were scheduled to talk about the Kansas City Down Syndrome Guild’s
prom, which the proceeds of the wine auction go towards every year. When Chris
first saw her, he was enamored. “When we first met, I was amazed how beautiful
she looked and she took my breath away.”
Talk about Prince Charming! It wasn’t one sided though.
Carissa was just as interested after spending the majority of the event talking
with Chris. After the night was over, Carissa remembers telling her mom that “I had met the most wonderful man
ever and hoped I would get to see him again!”
With a little help from
Carissa’s mom and Chris’ sister, the couple got back in contact through
Facebook. After a month of talking to each other, they set up their first date
for dinner and a movie. Chris remembers working on conversation starters with his sister
because he had the first date jitters. But when he got there, all the prep
wasn’t necessary; with Carissa leading the way, they had an amazing first date
night together!
Now, the couple is going
on 4 years together. They love going to movies together, eating out at
restaurants, bowling, going to dances, and as Carissa put it, “just being
together.” Another special something
that brings them together is their shared love of sports.
Both of them participant
in Special Olympics; Chris is an avid swimmer, often medaling in his swim
events while Carissa participates in bowling,
swimming, basketball, softball, track and field, tennis, and bocce. This
Valentine’s Day, they’re planning their festivities around a basketball
tournament. But they definitely have plans.
“We’re planning to go out for dinner and a dance,” said
Carissa. “I want to take him
out for dinner and give him a Valentine’s Day card.” Chris, or Mr. Wonderful as
Carissa calls him, isn’t quite sure what to get his girlfriend quite yet. “Let’s
just say I’m a sweet and perfect boyfriend. Just sometimes I don’t know what to
get her!”
Wherever they decide to go and whatever Chris decides on for
a present, we’re excited to see these two happy together! We hope the happy
couple and all of the lovebirds out there will have a lovely Valentine’s Day.
