Down Syndrome Awareness Month Story – Alex
My son Alex – High School Tradition Maker
Written by Alex’s dad, Jeff
Since my son Alex was a small child, whenever he became excited he would furiously rub his hands together. He would rub them so hard that, combined with his very dry skin, I was concerned he might start a fire! Over the years we became used to this idiosyncrasy and like many family things just sort of took it for granted.
Over the years Alex developed a love for basketball. Despite his 4’10” stature, he shot and played constantly – both in real games and against imaginary foes. When he got to high school he had the good fortune to become the manager of the boys’ basketball team at Lakota East. It was a dream come true for him and he loved every minute. (In hindsight he might have enjoyed being the manager of the girls’ basketball team even more.)
His coach and team were wonderfully kind to him in so many ways. He made many good friends and at one point I discovered two of the senior players were actually giving up their coveted senior “late arrival” privileges in order to work out with Alex in his first period weight lifting class.
In Alex’s senior year the Lakota East team was very successful and was Cincinnati city champions. During games the student section sat directly across from the team bench. This placed Alex, who sat at the end of the bench, directly across from them.
Whenever a Lakota player was preparing to shoot a foul shot, Alex would nervously rub his hands together. Eventually the student section noticed and at some point during the season the 
entire section, along with the cheerleaders, would place their hands over their head and rub them together during foul shots. Alex never seemed to notice that he had unknowingly started a trend.
Once Alex graduated, we would occasionally attend a Lakota East basketball game. Alex would sometimes even be allowed to sit on the end of the bench– just like old times. During one game, close to 10 years after Alex’s graduation, I noticed that the cheerleaders and student section were still doing the foul shot hand rubbing as an official “cheer”. All the while, I am sure none of them had any idea that the man who has started it all was in their midst. It was a tradition started that is just a small representation of how my son, like so many people with Down syndrome, influence all of our lives for the better.