Believing Beyond Limits: Elizabeth Duplechain on Raising Elijah

In this episode of This Ability Podcast, host Mary Baudoin sits down with Elizabeth Duplechain and Amanda Anderson for a heartfelt conversation about Elijah and the journey that surrounds him. Elizabeth, Elijah’s mother, shares what it means to raise a young man diagnosed with Down syndrome, autism, ADD, and ADHD, while navigating advocacy, education, and daily life. Amanda adds her perspective as someone who has walked alongside Elijah and his family, highlighting the importance of support, belief, and community. 

Although Elijah speaks very little during the interview, his story, presence, and impact are powerfully felt throughout the episode. This conversation serves as an important reminder that ability looks different for everyone—and that unwavering support can make all the difference.

Transcript

🎙️ Accessible Transcript

Podcast: This Ability Podcast
Host: Mary Baudoin
Guests: Elizabeth Duplechain, Elijah Duplechain, and Amanda Anderson
Episode Focus: Parenting, advocacy, and supporting Elijah’s journey

Note: Elijah is present but speaks minimally during the episode.

Mary Baudoin (00:11):

Welcome back to this episode of This Ability podcast. I'm your host, Mary Hooks Baudoin. And joining us today, we have Elizabeth, Amanda, and Elijah. Welcome to This Ability podcast, guys.

Elizabeth Duplechain (00:24):

Hi.

Elijah Duplechain (00:24):

Hi.

Mary Baudoin (00:24):

Thank you so much for being here today. Hi.

Elizabeth Duplechain (00:25):

Say, "Hi," Elijah.

Elijah Duplechain (00:25):

Hi.

Mary Baudoin (00:27):

So I'd like you, Elizabeth, to introduce yourself to our listeners and share a little bit about your family.

Elizabeth Duplechain (00:33):

Hi, I'm Elizabeth Duplechain. I am mother of Elijah. I had Elijah at 48 years old. He is my pride and joy and my light. Look at that. I get so emotional. I'm going to keep going.

Mary Baudoin (00:48):

Yeah. Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (00:50):

I am 60 years old now and I love my child more than anything in this world. Elijah has come a long way. Was two pounds at birth.

Mary Baudoin (01:00):

Wow. Now, in relation to his due date, was he very premature, a few weeks early or-

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:07):

Two months earlier.

Mary Baudoin (01:08):

Two months early.

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:09):

But I didn't find out I was pregnant until five months.

Mary Baudoin (01:12):

Wow.

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:12):

I was five months pregnant when I found out. And when they found out I was pregnant, they put me in the hospital the whole time I was pregnant, monitoring him because they didn't know if he was going to survive. Of course he did. Two months later, they said that it was time because he was developed, but he was still small. And I knew he was going to be a special child from that day on because he was the only one in the NIC unit that didn't have any machines hooked up to him. He was fully developed.

Mary Baudoin (01:43):

Oh, wow, that's impressive.

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:44):

That's very impressive. They were very surprised because they don't see it that often. And only thing he had was a feeding tube just to get-

Mary Baudoin (01:53):

Sure. Nutrition.

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:54):

Nutrition, right?

Mary Baudoin (01:55):

Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:55):

I just knew that he was going to be somebody special.

Mary Baudoin (01:58):

How old are you now?

Elizabeth Duplechain (01:59):

Tell her how old you are.

Elijah Duplechain (02:00):

13.

Mary Baudoin (02:02):

13. That's a good age, right?

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:05):

Yes, ma'am. She's talking.

Mary Baudoin (02:07):

You have any love interest?

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:09):

Oh, does he?

Mary Baudoin (02:11):

I was not expecting that answer.

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:14):

Oh, everywhere we go, he finds a girlfriend or wife.

Mary Baudoin (02:17):

Oh, all right. Elijah, he's a player.

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:21):

Yes. Also, I am a sibling of six, but my mom had a home with love. She raised foster kids also. We had plenty other sisters and brothers, which we do acknowledge that they will always be our sister and brothers.

Mary Baudoin (02:39):

Nice. Even after they've gone through the program where you fostered them, you still include them as a family?

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:45):

Everything. Oh, yeah. Even now.

Mary Baudoin (02:47):

That's beautiful.

Elizabeth Duplechain (02:47):

My mom and dad has passed, which my mom just passed a few months ago, New Year's Day. Of course, everything we have is theirs also because they are considered my brothers and sisters.

Mary Baudoin (02:59):

I think that is such a wonderful thing. And I heard a lot of things about the negative impacts of being in a foster home, but this sounds like it was such a positive experience.

Elizabeth Duplechain (03:10):

It was. It was.

Mary Baudoin (03:11):

And it's nice and it's refreshing to hear that, that you guys consider them like family.

Elizabeth Duplechain (03:17):

Right. We're a very close family, all of us. Even the ones my mom raised, whenever we do something, we acknowledge them and we put them down on anything that we have that they are our sisters and brothers.

Mary Baudoin (03:33):

So Elijah, you have already accomplished something incredible. You have graduated from the Opelousas Junior Police Program. Congratulations on that. Congrats.

Elizabeth Duplechain (03:44):

Yay.

Mary Baudoin (03:45):

Yay. Yeah. I saw the story on one of our local television stations here in Lafayette. Saw that story. I said, "Man, yeah, I definitely want to talk to the family of Elijah." So what was that experience like for you guys, for him and for you guys?

Elizabeth Duplechain (04:01):

It was very overwhelming to me. I knew he could do it. At the beginning, I was very skeptical because I know he have issues with his disability, but I don't see his disability as a problem.

Mary Baudoin (04:13):

I've not heard of the Opelousas Junior Police Program. So what exactly is it?

Elizabeth Duplechain (04:18):

You know what? I just heard of the Opelousas Police Academy when I signed him up for it. I didn't know about it. I didn't hear about it. Me and him had gone to an autism breakfast, which was done by Ladrika Johnson theory. And it was in honor for her daughter because her daughter has autism and she gave that breakfast for the kids. And they invited Elijah and we were sitting down there and Elijah was making everybody laugh around him. He just bring joy to a lot of people.

(04:53):

The chief of police saw him and came up to the table. He asked me, he said, "Why don't you enroll your son in the junior police?" I said, "I had no idea they had that." So we need to make people aware of these different programs that's going on because they're very good for the kids in the community.

Mary Baudoin (05:12):

What age group is it looking at?

Elizabeth Duplechain (05:15):

I think it's from 10 to 15, if I'm not mistaken.

Mary Baudoin (05:17):

And it's during the summer?

Elizabeth Duplechain (05:19):

It's during the summer.

Mary Baudoin (05:20):

It's in between school sessions. Okay. Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (05:22):

Yeah. It's six weeks. It's a six-week program. And it does a lot for the kids. It really gives them an opportunity to bond with other kids that they don't know in the area, in the neighborhood. And it shows them how to respect others. When I found out about it, I wasn't sure through the Lieutenant Tyler, which is a big influence in Elijah's life, came home and spoke with me on the program. And she said, "Trust me, we will definitely take care of him." And I did, a few times I had to speak with her and she said, "Please let him come."

Mary Baudoin (05:59):

If I'm not mistaken, he's the first person with a disability to graduate from the program, correct?

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:03):

He's the first person ever with a disability.

Mary Baudoin (06:05):

How does that make you feel? I mean, proud probably doesn't even cover it.

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:09):

It is. It is. It's over my head. But I knew that he was destined to do a lot of things. And I'm not going to deprive him of doing things because of his disability, because I know he can do it, because I don't see him as a child with a disability.

Mary Baudoin (06:30):

Right. And he's going to do it his own way.

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:32):

Yes.

Mary Baudoin (06:32):

What did they learn in the police program?

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:35):

They learned how to do sit-ups and like a military bootcamp.

Mary Baudoin (06:39):

Wow.

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:39):

Yes.

Mandy (06:40):

It really helps with the development of the child physically, mentally. They're given orders. They follow orders. They're still kids and play around. That program really speaks to how much a child can be developed through that program.

Elizabeth Duplechain (06:57):

And they involve the kids even after the program is over with different activities that's going on in the area. Just this past week they had gone on at the police department and had them dress up and involved with other students, other kids from the community. One thing to see them all get together and enjoy.

Mandy (07:14):

And they were really helpful with Elijah too in that program. The kids were just as influential as all the lieutenants. I go-

Mary Baudoin (07:23):

Good, yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (07:23):

Yes. They love him.

Mandy (07:23):

... "Come on, Elijah. Let's do setups. Come on, Elijah." Beautiful to see those kids, the kids rising through the engagement.

Elizabeth Duplechain (07:28):

Made me proud because bond with other kids. It was ...

Mary Baudoin (07:32):

How would y'all describe Elijah's personality?

Elizabeth Duplechain (07:35):

He brings a light in the room when he walks in.

Mandy (07:39):

Joy. Joy. He's my joy.

Elizabeth Duplechain (07:40):

Literally.

Mandy (07:41):

He's always happy. He's always happy. He's not a grumpy person. He doesn't need much. He's not whining, I should say. He doesn't whine. I think I saw him cry once. Oh, this was the moment I knew I was in love with this child. We were in the backseat because we're always in the backseat while his mom driving.

Elizabeth Duplechain (07:57):

I'm driving and they sitting in the backseat.

Mary Baudoin (07:58):

Okay.

Mandy (07:59):

She's chauffeur. And so we're playing and we're doing our thing. But I think he did something and mama had to fuss. And he just started crying because he was upset that he upset his mother. He was so sad and then tears and ... "Oh," and then she says, "Okay, Elijah, stop crying." He took a deep breath and then he wiped his tears. Then he looks at me. "Hi, Mandy."

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:20):

Oh my God.

Mandy (08:21):

I mean, the sadness just disappeared instantly. God, I love that person. Love this guy.

Mary Baudoin (08:28):

Yes. We could all learn lessons from Elijah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:32):

We could.

Mandy (08:32):

Yes.

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:32):

We could.

Mandy (08:32):

Get over it.

Mary Baudoin (08:32):

Quickly.

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:32):

Quickly.

Mandy (08:32):

Awesome little boy.

Mary Baudoin (08:37):

Yes. Now he also, in addition to having down syndrome, he has autism, ADD, and ADHD. Is that correct?

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:43):

That's correct.

Mary Baudoin (08:44):

How do you find that mixes together?

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:47):

Well, I just found out about the last, autism, ADHD in the last year. So I'm still learning about it.

Mandy (08:54):

Coping.

Elizabeth Duplechain (08:54):

But now I understand why his temper and a lot of things that he does is the reason why he does those is because he had a lot of other things going on. So I have to find different ways to cope with him. First of all, if you're loud, if your voice is elevated, he's not going to accept that very well. So I have to come down to his level and calm him down in order for him to be okay.

Mary Baudoin (09:22):

So far, he's 13. When you look back at his life so far, what has been the largest obstacle and how did you guys overcome it?

Elizabeth Duplechain (09:31):

The largest obstacle at one time was he didn't start walking till he was five. He'll have balancing issues coming upstairs or going even down a little tiny slope or even just a little concrete where you have to just walk down. Even that high, it bothers him. So you have to be aware of his surroundings and make sure that he's comfortable. And that's our biggest obstacle.

Mandy (09:54):

I met him when he was five. I moved back. And that's when I met him. And yes, his ability to walk wasn't the best. But from then till now, I really have seen an improvement in his walking and he's able to running a whole lot more now. It's gotten a lot better, a lot better. And he's braver now too. I could tell he's changing into a little man because he wants to try to go up those stairs by himself and down those stairs by himself. But then he knows when he needs assistance and then he'll reach out for a hand, but he wants to try himself.

Mary Baudoin (10:24):

That's good.

Mandy (10:25):

Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (10:26):

Yeah.

Mary Baudoin (10:26):

That's good.

Mandy (10:26):

I love that change in him.

Mary Baudoin (10:28):

Now let's go back to your story because you became a mom at 48 years old, which is a little higher than the average age. So what was that like for you?

Elizabeth Duplechain (10:40):

Scary, but happy. And he came to me at the right time in my life because at that moment I felt like my world was crashing in on me. My boyfriend left me at the time.

Mary Baudoin (10:53):

So you were a single mom?

Elizabeth Duplechain (10:55):

I was a single mom. I went through the whole thing by myself, but I have a very good support system. My family, my brothers and sisters, they step in, but his aunt Mandy is the world.

Mary Baudoin (11:06):

That's awesome.

Mandy (11:06):

His aunt Mandy is the world.

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:08):

But my family is there and anytime I need them for him, they are there for him. It's just that I wish he would've had that role model, that male role model in his life as far as his father.

Mary Baudoin (11:19):

Right. Does he have a male role model?

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:21):

Yes, my brothers.

Mary Baudoin (11:22):

Okay, your brothers.

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:22):

Yes, my brothers.

Mary Baudoin (11:23):

Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:23):

And we all live around the same area, so they're really close.

Mary Baudoin (11:28):

And they can talk to him, especially as a teenage boy about things developing and changing and things.

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:33):

I haven't got to that yet, but it's getting there.

Mandy (11:33):

Boy things.

Mary Baudoin (11:33):

Yeah, right.

Mandy (11:33):

Boy things.

Mary Baudoin (11:41):

Yes, exactly. That's right. You mentioned that faith plays a big role in your life. Talk about how faith is incorporated in your daily life.

Elizabeth Duplechain (11:52):

He can tell you a lot about it also. He loves the church. If it wasn't for the church, I don't know where I would be right now because they have opened their heart, their doors. And they welcome me and Elijah into the church and it's just a big influence on him. Father has ... They love him. Everybody loves him at the church.

Mary Baudoin (12:12):

Well, yeah. Yeah. How can they not?

Elizabeth Duplechain (12:13):

He walks in and he just gets his arms open. That's another family to us. So they really have influenced us a lot.

Mary Baudoin (12:22):

Is he in the special education program? And if so, how's his interaction with other children?

Elizabeth Duplechain (12:28):

He's good with other kids. You'd be surprised. He's very good with ... Especially kids younger than him. He is so gentle. You wouldn't think he would be, but he is the most gentlest person you could meet. He's a little rough because he don't understand. Now he's not rough with kids, but he's a little rough when it comes to playing with kids around his age because he don't understand how strong he can be. So that's a little difficult for some kids because they get kind of scared to play with him sometimes. But he do have some friends that he met in the police academy that have been coming home and hanging out with him. Oh, and it's beautiful. And he loves it. Come and spend time with him and they just love Elijah.

Mary Baudoin (13:10):

Yeah. Going back to the cadet program, the junior police program, the staff, the other officers, what was their response to him?

Elizabeth Duplechain (13:19):

Yeah, of course. The chief was a major part of it. Chief LeBlanc and Lieutenant Tyler.

Mandy (13:25):

Who is your favorite teacher at Police Academy? Who you- Yolanda was a police-

Elizabeth Duplechain (13:30):

Is a police officer there. She is so good with him.

Mandy (13:34):

But his favorite is Peterson.

Elizabeth Duplechain (13:36):

Peterson. Peterson was talking about him at the police academy and he was reading. He got so overwhelmed talking about him, he had to take a break because he got emotional. He said every time Elijah walks in the door, he hollers, "Peterson, Peterson." They just love him. They really helped him out a lot. They're so good with him. They were really good with him.

Mary Baudoin (13:58):

What kind of dreams does Elijah have for the future? What does he see himself doing?

Elizabeth Duplechain (14:05):

What do you want to do? What do you want to be? What do you want to be when you grow up?

Elijah Duplechain (14:07):

Police.

Elizabeth Duplechain (14:08):

Be a police officer?

Elijah Duplechain (14:13):

I'm going to arrest you.

Mary Baudoin (14:13):

Okay. He's going to arrest you. That's awesome.

Mandy (14:15):

What you told mamma you want to be, the what? The president.

Elijah Duplechain (14:17):

Of the United States.

Mandy (14:17):

The President of the United States.

Mary Baudoin (14:17):

Hey, it's good to have goals.

Mandy (14:17):

That's right.

Elizabeth Duplechain (14:23):

And he is so smart in school. Oh, he's honor roll student. He teaches the other kids. He teaches the other kids in the class. He's more advanced than most of the students in the class.

Mary Baudoin (14:34):

What's his favorite subject or best subject?

Mandy (14:37):

What's your favorite sub? Do you like math, you like science?

Elijah Duplechain (14:40):

Science.

Elizabeth Duplechain (14:41):

He likes biology because he likes girls.

Mary Baudoin (14:44):

Sure. That's a typical 13 year old response.

Mandy (14:48):

And science. Tell her about the solar system.

Mary Baudoin (14:51):

Oh, you like the solar system?

Mandy (14:53):

Oh my, yes.

Mary Baudoin (14:53):

You can talk about the planet?

Mandy (14:54):

Tell her the planets.

Mary Baudoin (14:55):

Oh, you can tell me all of them?

Elijah Duplechain (14:57):

Mars, Pluto, Saturn, Neptune.

Mandy (14:57):

Venus.

Elijah Duplechain (14:57):

Pluto.

Mandy (15:01):

Pluto.

Mary Baudoin (15:03):

Yeah, I love Pluto. Even though sometimes it's a planet and sometimes it's not. I don't care.

Mandy (15:07):

That's right. That's what they say.

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:07):

I don't care.

Mary Baudoin (15:08):

When I grew up It was a planet.

Mandy (15:10):

That's right.

Mary Baudoin (15:10):

Very good, Elijah. A+.

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:12):

And what do the earth do? It what?

Elijah Duplechain (15:15):

It rotates-

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:18):

It rotates-

Elijah Duplechain (15:19):

... around the sun.

Mary Baudoin (15:20):

It rotates.

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:20):

... around the sun.

Mary Baudoin (15:20):

I wanted to ask you, what would you say to other people who are raising a child with down syndrome and that has autism and other medical diagnosis?

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:30):

Never give up. Never give up. Keep striving for what is best for your child. Always show the love. It's very challenging. Always give them as much love as you possibly can. And you will definitely get it back in return.

Mary Baudoin (15:44):

Is there a piece of scripture or advice or a quote that you always come back to that might be uplifting for you?

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:52):

What mommy tells you to do every day? Don't-

Elijah Duplechain (15:55):

Don't give up. Don't quit.

Mary Baudoin (15:56):

Don't give up. Don't quit.

Elizabeth Duplechain (15:57):

And what's the other quote you do? I what?

Elijah Duplechain (15:59):

Mandy.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:00):

Say a lot.

Elijah Duplechain (16:01):

I love Mandy.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:03):

And you see, that's how everybody knows her.

Mary Baudoin (16:05):

Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:05):

Because in the Police-

Mandy (16:07):

He just walks around saying, "I love Mandy?"

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:08):

That's what he does.

Mandy (16:09):

Well, that's amazing.

Elijah Duplechain (16:10):

I love Mandy.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:10):

They thought Aunt Mandy was somebody he heard off of television until I told them, "Okay, I'm going to bring Aunt Mandy to visit the Police Academy," because he kept saying, "Aunt Mandy" They said, "That's a real person?" Yes, she's a real person. She got famous because of him.

Mary Baudoin (16:26):

I bet she did. They want to find out why he loves Aunt Mandy. Is she a good cook, bringing cookies?

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:33):

She teaches him how to belly dance.

Mary Baudoin (16:35):

Okay, let's talk about that.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:37):

She's a belly dance instructor.

Mary Baudoin (16:40):

Oh, amazing. That's fun.

Mandy (16:44):

It's a lot of fun and very good.

Elizabeth Duplechain (16:45):

Would be something kids with disabilities could do.

Mary Baudoin (16:48):

Absolutely.

Mandy (16:49):

The music, they're attracted to the music and all the movements.

Mary Baudoin (16:53):

Right. And it's a little more tranquil than trying to teach-

Mandy (16:56):

It is.

Mary Baudoin (16:56):

... Zumba or something high energy.

Mandy (16:59):

It's easier on your joints.

Mary Baudoin (17:01):

When you look back at Elijah's life, and I know he's still very young, he's only 13. What's a favorite memory, favorite moment that has stood out to you as being his mom?

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:11):

There are so many. But one of my favorite moments is him and my mom.

Mary Baudoin (17:16):

Is your mom still with us?

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:17):

She just passed in January, New Year's Day.

Mary Baudoin (17:19):

She would talk to him?

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:21):

Oh my. He was her light. She loved him with everything in her. She wanted to make sure he was okay. And I think that's why she didn't want to leave us too. You should have saw the look on his face when she was in her bed when he would be up to her holding her hand. And that was the saddest moment I could have ever saw, but it made her feel ...

Mandy (17:41):

[inaudible 00:17:42].

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:42):

It was uplifting, but it was sad in my heart because I knew my mom wasn't going to be here for very long.

Mary Baudoin (17:47):

Did Elijah know?

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:48):

I think he had an idea. He had an idea.

Mandy (17:50):

He's sensitive to people.

Mary Baudoin (17:51):

And he understands?

Elizabeth Duplechain (17:52):

He understood because every time she would wake up, she would call him to see him. So he would come up to her bed and grab her hand and just stare at her. And they would just stare at each other.

Mandy (18:04):

Super sensitive when it comes to people with ... If you have something going on with you.

Elizabeth Duplechain (18:09):

Oh, yeah.

Mandy (18:10):

If you're physically sick or going through something.

Elizabeth Duplechain (18:13):

He feels it.

Mandy (18:14):

Like I am sad. And Liz calls me, you can't call anybody, but when Liz calls me and I tell her, "Okay, this is where I'm at right now," then she'll put Elijah on the phone and she'll tell him, "Aunt Mandy doesn't feel well." And then he says a prayer for me over the phone. He'll talk to me and say things that he knows I'm going to laugh about. But when it comes to children or just a body that is, I don't know, that's vulnerable in some way, he is sensitive to that. So he adapts to them.

Elizabeth Duplechain (18:42):

He does.

Mandy (18:43):

It's very powerful for me to just observe that.

Elizabeth Duplechain (18:45):

He does.

Mary Baudoin (18:46):

Some children are not that intuitive.

Mandy (18:51):

Right.

Elizabeth Duplechain (18:51):

I know.

Mandy (18:51):

He is. He is. Always have been.

Mary Baudoin (18:51):

Because I've seen children react to my daughter, Lexi, right? She's nonverbal and she does sit in a wheelchair. And so when we go out in public, I'll see children's expressions and they kind of vary. Some just look and then some come up immediately. And they'll even gently put their hand on her knee or their hand or her hand.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:14):

He would definitely be drawn to her.

Mandy (19:16):

Oh, he would.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:16):

And he would go straight to her and kiss her on her forehead.

Mary Baudoin (19:19):

I love that.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:20):

Every single ... I've never had a negative reaction toward him ever.

Mary Baudoin (19:24):

That's amazing.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:25):

Ever.

Mandy (19:25):

But he will approach people first. That's what happens. So he'll break any kind of wall they may have.

Mary Baudoin (19:30):

Well, I noticed that when I met him in the hallway right there. Yeah. He was not shy.

Mandy (19:35):

Not shy at all.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:36):

He's not. Wherever we go, if he sees someone standing there, he would run up to them and give them a hug.

Mandy (19:40):

Hug.

Mary Baudoin (19:41):

Nice.

Mandy (19:43):

And say, "How are you doing?" We were in the pizza place one time. These two old ladies, they were just stone faced. They weren't even talking to each other.

Mary Baudoin (19:49):

Oh, wow.

Mandy (19:49):

And then this was years ago. So Elijah was even friendlier than he is today.

Elizabeth Duplechain (19:52):

Probably about seven or eight years old.

Mandy (19:55):

So he went up to the table and I'm like, "Let him go, let him go. Let him go right back."

Mary Baudoin (19:58):

Yeah. They need some tension relief.

Mandy (20:00):

They do. They really did. But it's amazing to see him just break down people's walls. See, they have at first, but-

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:08):

He usually leave our table and go and sit with other people and-

Mandy (20:14):

Just Mr. Personality. "How you doing? How you been?" he says.

Mary Baudoin (20:15):

Some people can be a little more introverted. Some can be a little more extroverted.

Mandy (20:19):

Exactly. Yeah.

Mary Baudoin (20:20):

And then there's a whole range of, for the most part that he does go up to strangers. You hate for him to go up to the wrong stranger for real.

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:27):

He's never had a bad moment with him as far as that.

Mary Baudoin (20:31):

Now I want to ask you this because I've noticed he doesn't sit still too much and that's okay. It doesn't bother me, but I'm wondering at home, does he walk around a lot? And if so, does it scare you a little if he goes outside?

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:44):

He doesn't go outside.

Mary Baudoin (20:45):

He doesn't go outside. Do you have locks in the door or does he know?

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:48):

I don't keep it locked.

Mary Baudoin (20:48):

Okay.

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:49):

He knows he's not supposed to go outside, so he doesn't.

Mary Baudoin (20:52):

And he doesn't. He doesn't. He listens to you.

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:52):

Yes, he does. Yes, he does.

Mandy (20:56):

And he plays well. He plays by himself.

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:58):

He plays well by himself.

Mary Baudoin (20:58):

Okay, good.

Elizabeth Duplechain (20:59):

He loves music-

Mandy (21:00):

Loves music.

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:01):

... singing and dancing.

Mary Baudoin (21:02):

Because I've heard about children that have autism. Yeah, they will elope, but they will leave the house. And unfortunately, sometimes they gravitate towards water.

Mandy (21:11):

Oh, wow.

Mary Baudoin (21:11):

And sometimes that can be a tragic thing.

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:13):

He loved the water also.

Mary Baudoin (21:15):

Loves the water also. Now does he know how to swim?

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:17):

No.

Mary Baudoin (21:17):

No. Okay. You think he would try to learn to swim at some point?

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:21):

Probably.

Mandy (21:21):

Not now.

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:21):

I think he would.

Mandy (21:21):

Now.

Mary Baudoin (21:24):

Yeah.

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:24):

Do they have any programs out there for kids like him?

Mary Baudoin (21:28):

Yes. Yes, they do. We'll talk after the show.

Elizabeth Duplechain (21:30):

Okay. We'll talk. We've been wanting to action for that for years.

Mandy (21:34):

Because you don't know where to look sometimes.

Mary Baudoin (21:35):

Exactly. I just discovered it myself for my daughter, so I'm happy about that.

Mandy (21:38):

This is good.

Mary Baudoin (21:38):

I wanted to ask both of you, do you have any thoughts or any advice that you'd like to leave with the audience today?

Mandy (21:46):

I encourage people to open their minds and open their heart. And don't be so selfish with your time because programs need volunteers and the children need to hear the crowd cheering for them as well. We don't live in a bubble. We're all in this.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:05):

Be an Aunt Mandy.

Mandy (22:06):

Be an Aunt Mandy. Yes.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:08):

[inaudible 00:22:09] is right for themselves.

Mary Baudoin (22:10):

Yeah. I think you nailed it because you said volunteer your time. A lot of times when I approach people about volunteering or donating to a cause, like, "I don't have any money, times are tight." I understand that. I really get that. If you can't donate money to help a charity, sometimes it's more important to volunteer your time. Sometimes they just need help in the office or sometimes they just need help organizing an event or just work at the registration table or do mail outs, whatever.

Mandy (22:36):

Right. That's what they really need.

Mary Baudoin (22:37):

Yes. So that is something 100%.

Mandy (22:40):

Yeah.

Mary Baudoin (22:40):

What about you, mom?

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:41):

Open up your hearts and your soul to kids like that because they are very genuine.

Mandy (22:46):

Yeah.

Mary Baudoin (22:47):

Yes.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:47):

They are very genuine and they are real with the love that they have in their heart.

Mary Baudoin (22:52):

They'll alter your moods-

Mandy (22:52):

They know.

Mary Baudoin (22:52):

... radically.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:53):

Right.

Mary Baudoin (22:54):

They're sweet. They're innocent children of God, right?

Mandy (22:57):

Amen.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:57):

Definitely. Definitely.

Mandy (22:58):

Praise Jesus.

Elizabeth Duplechain (22:59):

And he loved God.

Mandy (23:00):

And he loved God.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:01):

He just got his confirmation and first communion and it was beautiful.

Mary Baudoin (23:06):

You guys are Catholic?

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:07):

Yes.

Mandy (23:07):

Yes.

Mary Baudoin (23:07):

Okay.

Mandy (23:08):

Choir.

Mary Baudoin (23:09):

Is he in choir?

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:10):

Well-

Mary Baudoin (23:10):

He tries to be.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:11):

... he's an honorary choir member.

Mary Baudoin (23:14):

What does that mean?

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:15):

When we're in church, no matter what group is singing, he will leave from where I'm sitting and go and go sing with the choir. And they allow him to.

Mary Baudoin (23:24):

Nice. So they don't push him away, get it away.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:27):

No, I have videos. They love it.

Mary Baudoin (23:29):

You need to share that with us.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:31):

I have videos.

Mandy (23:35):

And he's clapping and he's singing. He listens to the words, you can see the wheels turning. He's listening. And then as soon as he gets the words, oh yeah, he's in it.

Mary Baudoin (23:42):

Happy about Jesus.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:43):

Father says, "Let him love the Lord."

Mandy (23:45):

Let him-

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:46):

... in his way.

Mandy (23:47):

... in his way.

Mary Baudoin (23:47):

Because he might have a better connection than the rest of us, right?

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:50):

Than the rest of us. You're right.

Mandy (23:51):

That's right.

Elizabeth Duplechain (23:52):

Because he's at home always quoting what Father says in church. It's good to have. He is a beautiful child at heart.

Mandy (23:59):

Yeah.

Mary Baudoin (23:59):

Well, on that note, I think we're going to close out the show. So everyone, thank you all for listening and thank you all for being here today for This Ability podcast. Thank you, Elizabeth, Aunt Mandy and Elijah. Thank y'all for being here. And we'll see y'all next time on This Ability podcast.

Elijah Duplechain (24:14):

Thank you. Bye-bye.

Mary Baudoin (24:17):

Oh, he kissed the microphone. Thank you.

Mandy (24:19):

And then he throws it away.

Mary Baudoin (24:22):

And then he throws away. Help us grow our audience by subscribing to our podcast on iHeartRadio, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and other podcast networks. Additionally, if you enjoy listening to our podcast, help us to be discovered by leaving a rating or review of our episodes. This will connect us with other potential listeners and help us to expand our audience. From all of us at This Ability podcast, we thank you for your ongoing support of our mission to unveil stories that inspire and enlighten others in the special needs community.