Hollywood actor Jamie Foxx recently paid tribute to his sister, DeOndra Dixon, who had Down’s syndrome. “Receiving this gift came at the right time in my life”, he wrote. “I miss my angel.”
Jamie Foxx, who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of musician Ray Charles in 2004, reflected on his sister on Instagram to mark World Down Syndrome Day last month.
“My heart… my breath… my soul… I hear your laughter in the house… I hear you sliding down the stairs… my heart… my breath… my soul… I love u Deondra my angel”, said Foxx.
DeOndra, 36, who was the 2011 Ambassador for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, died last October.
Foxx has commented on his sister many times, explaining how she helped him revaluate life.
“Sometimes we get caught up in our world on the extras of everything — ‘Ah, the Mercedes is not the right color!’ And then you see this girl over here… ‘I just want to live. I want to dance. I want to love.’ She brings you back down to what life is.”
DeOndra, who often shared a stage with her brother at music events, once said: “Lots of kids with Down syndrome never get a chance to shine or chase their dreams…
“Each one has something to offer and each one has a dream. Please help me and my family to advocate for so many beautiful and brilliant children with Down syndrome who’ve been neglected. Together we will make dreams come true.”
SPUC comment
A SPUC spokesperson said: “Every child, including a child with Down’s syndrome, is indeed a gift to be cherished.
“Jamie Foxx’s tribute to his sister, who was by all accounts a marvellous woman, is a testament to the life she led and how that vibrant life touched others.
“It was certainly a life worth living. She lived it to the full.”
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