Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy says her youngest daughter, who has Down syndrome, teaches her eight other children patience.
The 52-year-old appeared on Fox and friends with four-year-old Valentina StellaMaris Duffy to raise awareness for National Down Syndrome Day.
“A lot of children with Down syndrome are exterminated in the womb and I think when people meet them and see how wonderful they are, we’ll see less of that,” Campos-Duffy told the show.
Valentina was seen playing with Ainsley Earhardt and showing off the Pilates skills she learned in physical therapy.
Campos-Duffy shares eight other children with her husband, former congressman Sean Duffy, and she said her family is better off because of Valentina.
Rachel Campos-Duffy appeared on Fox & Friends with four-year-old Valentina StellaMaris Duffy to raise awareness for National Down Syndrome Day.
Valentina was seen playing with Ainsley Earhardt and showing off the Pilates skills she learned in physical therapy.
Campos-Duffy shares eight other children with her husband, former congressman Sean Duffy, and she said her family is better off because of Valentina.
Fox & Friends Weekend co-host Campos-Duffy and her daughter were introduced to show where Valentina waved and said “hello.”
“I think it’s really important to raise awareness because the reality is a lot of women are getting this diagnosis, a lot of them, and they’re going to be scared,” Campos-Duffy said.
“There is a lot of fear about this. Even the medical community can scare people and tell them you have a choice.
“I think when people realize they’re just like any other child, they face some little challenges, sometimes medical ones.
“Some of them are prone to heart problems, maybe thyroid problems. But it’s all very treatable.
She praised Valentina and said she helped her family become more tolerant and patient.
“She is as charming, as precious, as joyful as any other child,” Campos-Duffy said.
“In fact, I would say our family is better because of her. I think our children have learned tolerance and patience. They learned to be useful.
Valentina then showed Earhardt her Pilates skills and began performing in the studio.
Campos-Duffy added that the girl was everyone’s favorite in the family.
Valentina was born in October 2019 with two holes in her heart and had to have surgery to repair it.
Duffy and Campos met on The Real World in 1998, before launching his political career.
Duffy served in Wisconsin’s 7th District but relinquished his post in 2019
Valentina was born in October 2019 with two holes in her heart and had to have surgery to repair it.
She was premature and had to spend time in the neonatal intensive care unit until she learned to eat on her own.
His mother then announced his birth in a comforting message on Facebook.
She wrote: “Meet Valentina StellaMaris Duffy. She is the sweetest, most perfect thing we have ever seen. It’s a wonderful life!
“When we visit her in the hospital, the kids fight over who gets to hold her – I don’t blame them! She’s the sweetest, most perfect angel we’ve ever seen.
Before his birth, his father announced that he was resigning his seat in Wisconsin in order to spend more time with his family.
The couple both appeared on MTV’s The Real World and married in 1999. Sean had a successful career in television before entering politics.
He was a representative for Wisconsin’s 7th District until September, when the couple learned before Valentina was born that she would be born with a hole in her heart. This prompted his resignation.
“Recently we learned that our baby, due in late October, will need even more love, time and attention due to complications including heart disease.
“Through much prayer, I have decided that it is the right time for me to take a break from public service in order to be the support that my wife, baby and family need at this time. This is not an easy decision – because I really love being your Congressman – but it is the right decision for my family, which is my first love and my first responsibility,” he said.
He was endorsed by President Trump – whose 2016 presidential campaign he enthusiastically supported – and a handful of other Republicans.
Duffy met his future wife on the set of MTV’s “Road Rules: All Stars” in 1999.
The two had appeared separately on the music network’s Real World programs. Duffy was in The Real World: Boston and Campos-Duffy was in The Real World: San Francisco.