Family, friends say boy with Down syndrome a blessing in their lives

Published: 2006-04-10

FARGO, N.D. (CNS) -- When there's a Minnesota Vikings football game on TV, there's no interrupting 8-year-old Colten Schneider while he is watching it. "He hoots, hollers, claps and 'whoo-whoos' through the entire game," said his mother, Marcia. "He'll reiterate the plays in a game to me through words, gestures and actions. He gets so excited, he's just talking 100 miles an hour." Colten has Down syndrome and struggles to express himself verbally, but his family and his many friends almost always know exactly what he means. They also know what he has brought to their lives. "We're lucky to have him. He's taught us way more than we've ever taught him," Marcia Schneider told New Earth, newspaper of the Fargo Diocese. "He brings out the real compassionate side in everyone."

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