Metairie toddler and family prepare for unique appearance in Times Square

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The parents of a 19-month-old toddler from Metairie hope their son's appearance in New York City's Times Square will help raise awareness for special needs children. When Tamra Roney and Joel Duran found out their fourth child would have Down syndrome, they worried. 'I think every parent wants a 'normal' pregnancy. And it's scary when you don't have that,' said Joel Duran. After Richard Duran was born, his parents say their outlook changed. 'Once he was here and was his normal little self, all those things that I thought were scary and horrible, I'm now realizing he's just another son,' said Joel Duran. During a recent visit to Fox 8's studio, the 19-month-old toddler from Metairie seemed at ease around our cameras. That photogenic quality likely came into play when Richard's picture was selected from 2,700 submissions from around the world to be featured in a one-hour video focused on people with Down syndrome. The video will broadcast in New York City's Times Square this Saturday (Sept. 12) as part of the National Down Syndrome Society's annual Buddy Walk. 'We were just so lucky to have Richard chosen. I think seeing him up there (in Times Square) is going to be just a real proud moment from where we were when I was pregnant. I was so afraid of what life would look like. Now, it looks no different than a life with a normal child, just a little extra,' said Roney. The Buddy Walk aims to raise awareness and funding to benefit people with the genetic condition, which often leads to developmental delays and intellectual challenges. Through social media, the family has already given people a window into their journey with Down syndrome. So far, Tamra Roney said their various accounts have more than 50,000 followers. 'My number one thing is inclusion. It includes them. It lets the world see we're people just like everyone else, because there are a lot of people who don't see them as worthy sometimes because of their disabilities,' said Roney. For Joel Duran, Richard is a constant reminder of life's bigger picture. 'As important as I think my plans are, God has his plan. It's a better plan than I have because I love this boy. I couldn't imagine our life without him,' said Joel Duran. A small part of that life will soon be on display in the country's biggest city. The National Down Syndrome Society's presentation will also be live streamed on Sept. 12 from 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. on the NDSS Facebook page.