Grey’s Anatomy star Caterina Scorsone has paid tribute to her daughter for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
Actress Scorsone was part of the Grey’s family for 10 years, starring as Amelia Shepherd for 11 seasons as well as its spin-off Private Practice.
Away from the small screen, she shares her three children with musician and ex-husband Rob Giles of The Rescues who divorced in 2020.
Their daughters are Eliza, 11, Paloma, better known as Pippa, six, and Lucinda, aka Lucky, three, with middle child Pippa living with Down Syndrome.
To coincide with Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Scorsone paid tribute to her daughter, stating it is a “privilege” to be her mum.
Sharing a number of cute photos of herself with Pippa to her 4 million followers on Instagram, the actress wrote: “October is Down syndrome awareness month.
“I have less and less to say about loving someone with Down syndrome because the awe I feel at the privilege of knowing and loving my daughter steals my breath.
“If I had not been lucky enough to gain up close awareness of Down syndrome through being Pippa’s mom my life would be a faded sepia version of what it is now.
“There are hard days, but the hard days aren’t because of Down syndrome ever: they are only hard because our culture and society doesn’t do equity well. Her needs are particular. Not special.
“They are just hers. Our culture hasn’t quite learned how to love itself well enough to know that all of our needs are particular.”
She continued to talk about Pippa’s love for life and how she is “deeply grateful”.
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“That’s what makes this beautiful. Pippa is here. Pippa loves herself.
“She is busy living loud and bright. Her existence and witness is our opportunity to opt into love or opt out of it.
“We each get to decide how much of the spectrum of love we want to experience.
“She offered me a little extra and I am so deeply grateful to have been invited to know her.”
Her former co-star Ellen Pompeo couldn’t help but take to the comments in support, writing: “The most beautiful emotion captured with these words…” followed by three red heart emojis.
The Scorsone family hasn’t had the easiest of years though after losing their four family pets in a house fire back in April.
She didn’t go into detail about the incident which destroyed the building but shared her thanks to the police, firefighters and neighbours for their help.