A Utah dad hopes the adorable photos of his young son "flying" through beautiful scenery can help send a positive message about Down syndrome.
The photos of the young boy soaring through the air have gone viral, and dad Alan Lawrence said the project is a way for him to prove to the world that even kids with Down syndrome, like his son William, can live magical lives.
"When Will was born, I didn't take the news as well as my wife did, and my family," Lawrence told TODAY.com. "I was dwelling on things that were out of my control. I was being selfish."
Lawrence, from Paradise, Utah, said he's ashamed to admit that he once thought his new son would be a burden because of his disability. But he had it all wrong, he said.
"This project is a way for us to show how much our son has blessed our family," Lawrence said. "He's not a burden, he hasn't limited us. He's opened the door to so many new things, to new experiences."
Lawrence and his wife have four other children and another son the way. William is the youngest and was born in October 2013 — and he's wanted to fly ever since.
"He arches his back and puts his hands out. I never pose him, that's the funny part — he just naturally wants to fly," Lawrence said.It makes for great photos. Lawrence, an art director who does photography on the side, started taking pictures of his son assuming the "flying" pose and then edited him into gorgeous backdrops or funny situations — like one in which he looks like he's soaring above a field of cows.
Family and friends loved the photos so much that Lawrence is now trying to produce a series of calendars. The family also launched a Kickstarter campaign called "Bringing Light" to raise money for a road trip so they can take more photos at scenic spots, and meet other families with children who have Down syndrome along the way. So far, they've raised more than $2,000.
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