Bachelorette alum Emily Maynard Johnson announces birth of son Jones who has Down syndrome
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Former single Emily Maynard Johnson announced this week that she gave birth to a son named Jones who has Down syndrome.
Emily, 36, became a mother for the sixth time on August 31, when she welcomed Jones with her husband Tyler Johnson.
The reality star said she was “in shock” when she was told her son had Down syndrome, as well as a rare birth defect of the colon, she said. People.
But although “looking back at my life, many things have happened that I had not planned,” she thought that “I would change my life for nothing. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world.”
Baby Mine: Former single Emily Maynard Johnson announced this week she gave birth to a son named Jones, who has Down syndrome
Emily rose to fame in 2011 in season 15 of The Bachelor, when she successfully competed for the affections of rambunctious Texan bar owner Brad Womack.
At the time, she already had her daughter Ricki, now 17, with her late fiancé Ricky Hendrick, a NASCAR driver who died in a plane crash while Emily was pregnant.
She and Brad broke up in 2011, and she went on to become The Bachelorette, selecting Jef Holm at the end of her season.
Emily and Jeff split in 2012, and two years later she married Tyler on his family’s picturesque South Carolina ranch.
Father and son: Emily, 36, became a mother for the sixth time on August 31 when she welcomed Jones with husband Tyler Johnson
Her bundle of joy: She figured ‘I would change my life for nothing’, adding: ‘And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world’
Growing family: She took the news to her Instagram page, writing: ‘SURPRISE! On August 31, Tyler and I welcomed our dear son, Jones West Johnson, into the world.”
After their marriage, Tyler and Emily soon welcomed four children — Jennings, seven, Gibson, six, Gaitlin, four, and Nola, two — to Jones.
While pregnant with Nola, Emily was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, which she had previously in high school.
Emily was stunned after Jones was born when she was informed about his medical issues, which hadn’t been on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it. I just wanted to hold him and make everything work out.’
Jones had to undergo surgery and spend a month in neonatal intensive care — a blow his mother described as “devastating.”
Full of love: After ‘sweet and smiley’ Jones came home from hospital, Emily found him ‘the easiest baby and he was just our biggest blessing’
Family Matters: Tyler and Emily have five children — Jennings, seven, Gibson, six, Gaitlin, four, Nola, two, and Jones, two months — and Emily also has a daughter named Ricki, 17
She said: ‘I was just grieving and the experience was so different from what I expected.
“Waking up the next morning and hearing all the babies crying in the hallway while I was alone in the room, it hurt so much.”
Ricki was ‘my best buddy through it all. When I was in the hospital, she sent me 47 roses to represent Jones’ 47 chromosomes.”
After ‘sweet and smiley’ Jones came home from the hospital, Emily found him to be ‘the easiest baby and he’s just been our greatest blessing’.
Throwback: Emily rose to fame in 2011 on season 15 of The Bachelor, when she successfully competed for the affections of rambunctious Texan bar owner Brad Womack
She acknowledged, “I’m still learning about Down syndrome, but I’m also just trying to experience Jones as Jones and not as different from the other kids.”
Emily reflected, “I’m so grateful. But I’m still on my journey to process everything. And I have to trust that everything will be fine.’
She took the news to her Instagram page, writing: ‘SURPRISE! On August 31, Tyler and I welcomed our dear son, Jones West Johnson, into the world.”
Looking for love: She and Brad broke up in 2011 and she went on to become The Bachelorette, selecting Jef Holm at the end of her season
She stated, “During my surgery, we learned that he was born with Down syndrome, and while it was certainly a surprise, we are so at peace in God’s perfect plan and know that Jones will be a blessing to our family.”
Emily explained, “He was in the NICU for a little over a month and is now happily home in all the chaos and we couldn’t love him anymore.”
She expressed her gratitude to Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina “for all you have done for our family. I’m so happy to finally be able to share the news and share all the photos with you! He is definitely the icing on the cake!’
Love of her life: Emily and Jeff split up in 2012, and two years later she married Tyler on his family’s picturesque South Carolina ranch