Greys Anatomy’s Caterina Scorsone Pens Heartfelt Essay For Daughter With Down Syndrome

Caterina Scorsone of Grey’s Anatomy has penned a heartfelt letter about her daughter, Pippa for Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

The actress plays Dr. Amelia Shepherd on the hit sitcom, Grey’s Anatomy. She penned a personal essay for Good Morning America and wrote about a different fight which is the fight for opportunity, visibility, and equity for her daughter.

Pippa has Down Syndrome and her mother wrote a letter in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Caterina wrote Pippa has down syndrome but she isn’t down syndrome. She wrote, “Pippa is Pippa”.

The actress further described Pippa has rainbow-colored eyes and her hair is like soft-spun caramel. The mother added that her daughter likes wearing dresses more than pants and particularly likes dresses with moons and stars on them.

Caterina also is a mother to 8-year-old Eliza and 10-month-old Lucinda. The actress shared that Pippa likes popcorn, Totoro, and elephants. She wrote, “Pippa loves her big sister and her baby sister, too. She likes toast with butter, trampolining, and lip-syncing to Sia and the Sing soundtrack.”

The actress further shared that her daughter likes the color red and does not like having her hair washed in the tub. She added that Pippa likes swimming and sign language and coconut water. The Greys Anatomy alum wrote that Pippa is different and that she has a visual learning profile.

“Equity is a more useful word than equality”

That means it makes it easier for Pippa to learn from pictures and printed words than from hearing a teacher lecture. The actress wrote, “She could read simple words at 3 years old but took longer than her sister to be able to talk because of differences in her oral motor planning and muscle tone. Pippa has almond-shaped eyes and a slightly wider sandal gap between her toes. She is small for her age but her eyes are wise. She always says what she means and doesn’t suffer fools.” 

Although Caterina acknowledged that Pippa different, she also reminds people that everybody is different. She wrote that Pippa has needs that are specific to the way her body was made. However, she also writes that she herself has needs that are specific to the way her body was made.  

The actress explains that Pippa needs to be supported in specific ways to accomplish, thrive, and fulfill the desires she has. She says it is the same for her and everyone else. The Greys Anatomy alum also adds that her daughter will need therapies, visibility, and support now, and when she is older.

Caterina wrote, “She’ll need equity. Equity is a more useful word than equality.” She further explains that equity embraces everybody’s differences and equality accidentally erases them. The mother explains that this creates disadvantage and inequality for many people.

She further continues that everybody needs to be seen as worthy and precious despite their differences. The actress explains that this goal can be achieved through numerous ways which include having everybody’s uniqueness seen and protected.

“We are equal, different, and miraculous”

Caterina further writes, “For us to organize ourselves in a way that allows for equality in the fullness of our difference, we need to remember that every individual human being is the point.” She explained that each unique person is the whole story which is interconnected with “fractals of wholeness called love”. The actress explains that every person is more useful on the way towards something else.

The Private Practice alum further explained, “Human beings seen as a means is exploitation. Human beings seen as an end is dignity. It’s love.” In concluding her heartfelt essay she writes that everybody has the same basic needs which are love, safety, dignity, and connection.

However, the mother explains that beings are different and we need to be loved and supported individually. She wrote, “We are the unique and distinct notes of an infinite musical composition. We are every beautiful rainbow color refracted through the mysterious prism of life. We are equal, different, and miraculous, like Pippa’s eyes.”