Picture of Bowling Green Student Will Be Displayed in New York City's Time Square

Alex Embry, a 20-year-old student from Bowling Green, Kentucky will hit the big time this fall when his picture will be displayed on a jumbo screen in New York City's Time Square.

A senior at Warren Central High School, Embry and his parents have been notified that Alex's picture has been one of those selected to be displayed in September 26 as part of a video in celebration of the New York City's Down Syndrome Buddy Walk.

The picture shows Alex, who has Down syndrome, enthusiastically playing a set of drums and was taken by Steve Tichenor, whose daughter Kate also has Down syndrome.

About 400,000 Americans have been diagnosed with the genetic disorder.

Carole Embry, his mother and legal guardian, said Alex has not really reacted yet." I don't think he knows what we are talking about. But he will, the more we discuss it with him."

The picture was taken in November 2008 at a benefit concert at the Hillview Heights Worship Center for the Down Syndrome Support Group of South Central Kentucky.

Alex was invited to play the drums accompanying the Christian Rock Group "MICAH" on the Beatles song "Come Together".

"Alex wore his Beatles tee shirt because he wanted to be like Ringo Starr. He has been taking drum lessons for nearly three years, and enjoys it very much," Mrs. Embry said.

The "Raise the Roof, Rock the House" benefit concert was held to raise funds to create a Down Syndrome Center in Bowling Green. The center will be used by families affected by the disorder. The Embry family will not be going to the New York event, but will take part in the Bowling Green Buddy Walk on September 19 at Greenwood High School.

The announcement from the National Down Syndrome Society states, "After a nationwide search, the photo you submitted for the 2009 NDSS Times Square Video has been selected! The video will run in Times Square in the heart of New York City on the MTV plasma screen ..."

"Thousands are expected to participate in this event to promote acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome," it said.

According to Rodney Embry, "The Buddy Walk is an outreach activity initiated by a Down syndrome group in New York City over ten years ago. It is aimed at increasing true awareness about Down syndrome and to raise money for research..." and other Down syndrome causes. Bowling Green has had its own walk for 10 years.

"It's a great picture of Alex doing something he loves, and we're very proud of the young man he has become," Mr. Embry said in an email.

Both Rodney and Carole Embry grew up in Kentucky. They adopted Alex while living in London, Canada in 1991 after raising their own daughter, Jennifer, and participating in the foster parent program for 25 years. They knew Alex would face many medical difficulties in the coming years.

Mrs. Embry ticked off some 15 surgeries that Alex has been through over the years, some fairly minor procedures but, some quite serious including brain surgery, open-heart surgery, several intestinal surgeries, and repair of a hernia.

"He often had complications following surgery. Usually infection, but once he had adhesions, the hernia was a result of one of his bowel surgeries, another time he had cellulitis ," Mrs. Embry said.

"Surgery is always a big deal for Alex because his immune system is compromised. In April he had to have his wisdom teeth surgically removed, and he developed diarrhea because of the antibiotics he was given," she explained. "He had diarrhea for two months. He lost weight and got severely dehydrated as a result. We thought he was going to have to be hospitalized to clear it up, but we finally got a handle on it." His last surgery was in March 2008.

In addition to school, drumming lessons, and the Buddy Walk, Alex is very active in Special Olympics including swimming, baseball and softball. He is also in the Down syndrome dance troupe the "BGRockerz", which perform hip hop and rock & roll routines at public venues. Alex is also an altar server at Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church.

Alex has lived with his parents Rodney and Carole Embry in Bowling Green since March 2002 when Rodney got a job transfer back to Kentucky..

"I want to be a rock star!" said Alex Embry. When MTV in Time Square plays a video with a picture of Alex, he will be closer to that goal than many aspiring musicians, but the challenges he has overcome in his 20 years are his and his family's real achievements.