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Emily Maynard Johnson Reveals Her Reaction to Her Son’s Down Syndrome: ‘This Is Joyful’

Photo from Emily Maynord’s Instagram

Emily Maynard Johnson Reveals Her Reaction to Her Son’s Down Syndrome: ‘This Is Joyful’

By Movieguide® Staff

Emily Maynard recently welcomed her sixth baby with husband Tyler Johnson, Jones West.

However, the former BACHELORETTE star opened up about her reaction to her newborn son having down syndrome.

“We’ve never done any of the genetic testings,” Maynard Johnson said. “You get what you get and you’re going to love it either way so there’s no sense in worrying about anything because it’s all going to work out and in the end, everything is going to be okay,. We did the anatomy scans, check the heart and brain and two arms, two legs, but no blood screenings.”

Emily also is mother to Ricki, 17, Jennings, 7, Gibson, 6, Gatlin, 5 and Nola Belle, 2.

Emily confessed that the diagnosis came as a surprise to her and her husband.

“It was not on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it,” she said. “I just wanted to hold him and for everything to be okay.”

However, doctors kept Jones in the NICU for several weeks before he was allowed to go home.

“I was just grieving all of it and that the experience was so different from what I had expected. Waking up the next morning hearing all the babies crying down the hallway while I was in the room alone, it hurt so much,” she said.

“I realized this could be so much worse,” she continued. “This is nothing. This is joyful. Everybody that I’ve heard from shares how much love they have in their hearts.”

“He has the sweetest little smile and I’m just so excited. He’s so cute and he’s the easiest baby,” she added. “I just know God is going to see so much good through this sweet baby. Especially because we weren’t planning on having a sixth kid, but with Jones, our family is complete.”

Movieguide® previously reported:

BACHELORETTE alum Emily Maynard Johnson welcomed her sixth child, a son named Jones West.

Johnson is mom to six kids: 17 year-old Ricki, who she shared with her late fiance Ricky Hendrick, and Jennings, 7, Gibson, 6, Gatlin, 5 and Nola Belle, 2, who she shares with husband Tyler Johnson.

“I am so grateful,” she said of Jones’ birth. “But I’m still on my journey of processing everything. And I have to trust that it will all turn out alright.”

Shortly after Jones was born, Johnson was informed that he was born with Down syndrome, as well as a congenital colon abnormality that required immediate surgery and a month long stay in the NICU.

“I was in shock,” she said of the diagnosis. “It was not on my radar at all. And I refused to believe it. I just wanted to hold him and for everything to be okay.”

Jones’ stay in the NICU was “devastating,” but now that he’s home, Johnson said she is loving spending time with her “sweet and smiley” son.

“He’s the easiest baby and he’s just been our biggest blessing,” she shared. “I’m still learning about Down syndrome, but I’m trying to also just experience Jones as Jones and not as different than any of the other kids.”

Johnson continued, “Looking back on my life, a lot of things happened that I wouldn’t have planned, but I wouldn’t change my life for anything. And I wouldn’t trade Jones for any baby in the world.”

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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.


Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.

What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.

Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.